Bedminster, Bernardsville Receive State Clean Community Grant

Bernardsville/Bedminster, NJ -- Bernardsville Borough has received $25,335.80 and Bedminster received $26,788.99 in a Clean Communities grant from the state to help conduct litter cleanup efforts, Gov. Chris Christie said on Thursday. It is part of a total of $23.7 million in grants for municipalities and counties across the state.

"Each New Jersey county is receiving Clean Communities money to help beautify their communities and protect natural resources," stated Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin in a release. "Keeping our communities clean is just one way to improve the quality of life and build pride in our municipalities statewide."

More than $21.1 million was awarded to eligible municipalities and an additional $2.6 million to all 21 counties by the NJDEP. Clean Communities grants to municipalities and counties in 2015 totaled $20.8 million.

Activities funded by the grants include:

• cleanups of stormwater systems that can disperse trash into streams, rivers and bays;
• volunteer cleanups of public properties;
• adoption and enforcement of local anti-littering ordinances;
• beach cleanups;
• public information and education programs;
• and purchases of litter collection equipment such as receptacles, recycling bins, anti-litter signs and graffiti removal supplies.

"Simple initiatives such as litter control go a long way to making our communities healthier, stronger, and more sustainable," said Mark Pedersen, Assistant Commissioner for Site Remediation and Waste Management. "This year's increase in Clean Communities grants will allow New Jersey to continue fostering environmental stewardship at the local level as means to a more sustainable future."

Somerset County municipalities grant list:

• BEDMINSTER TWP - $26,788.99
• BERNARDS TWP - $67,855.86
• BERNARDSVILLE BORO - $25,335.80
• BOUND BROOK BORO - $19,819.61
• BRANCHBURG TWP - $44,596.77
• BRIDGEWATER TWP - $114,384.48
• FAR HILLS BORO - $4,315.32
• FRANKLIN TWP - $150,740.99
• GREEN BROOK TWP - $16,301.38
• HILLSBOROUGH TWP - $106,817.64
• MANVILLE BORO - $26,681.89
• MONTGOMERY TWP - $67,862.36
• NORTH PLAINFIELD BORO - $39,952.27
• PEAPACK GLADSTONE BORO - $8,536.90
• RARITAN BORO - $15,614.10
• ROCKY HILL BORO - $4,000.00
• SOMERVILLE BORO - $26,928.97
• SOUTH BOUND BROOK BORO - $9,400.21
• WARREN TWP - $48,118.56
• WATCHUNG BORO - $17,462.44

For a complete list of municipal and county grant awards, visit: http://www.njclean.org