Ocean County has been awarded a $273,576.97 New Jersey Clean Communities Grant, the largest allocation given to any county in the state this year. The funding will support ongoing litter abatement, education, and enforcement programs overseen by the Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management.
The grant is part of the New Jersey Clean Communities Program, a statewide initiative established in 1986 and funded by taxes on litter-generating products, including beverage containers, cleaning agents, paper goods, alcohol, and tobacco. The program focuses on reducing litter through cleanup efforts, community outreach, and ordinance enforcement.
County officials said the funding will be used to expand cleanup operations, strengthen public education, and continue enforcement measures aimed at curbing waste. Anthony M. Agliata, Director of the Ocean County Department of Planning, noted that the grant will also support partnerships with schools, nonprofit organizations, and local municipalities.
In 2024, the Department of Solid Waste Management supported more than 50 volunteer cleanups and outreach events, including programs in schools, senior communities, and public venues. The department also collaborates with the Ocean County Department of Corrections, where inmates collectively contribute about 1,000 hours of community service each month. Last year, inmate cleanup crews removed litter from more than 318 miles of roadways and public properties, collecting 1,560 bags of debris.
Alongside the county allocation, municipalities in Ocean County received a combined $1.86 million in Clean Communities funding to support local cleanup and educational initiatives.
Beyond traditional cleanup activities, the county has introduced programs such as recycling stations in parks, water refill stations, cigarette litter prevention campaigns, and mini-grants for nonprofit-led sustainability projects. The county also runs an Art Sustainability Project, which repurposes recycling igloos into public art installations promoting waste reduction. Four such installations were completed last year in Lacey Township, Barnegat Township, and Island Beach State Park.
County officials described the programs as part of a coordinated effort to preserve Ocean County’s natural resources, including the Barnegat Bay and nearby waterways, while promoting environmental responsibility among residents and visitors.
