Landfill Tax to Fund Town Recycling Center Upgrades

Ocean County freeholders are earmarking $165,000 in taxes collected at the Ocean County Landfill in Manchester Township for a grant program intended to encourage towns and school districts to upgrade their recycling facilities.

Applications for the matching grants are in the mail to local and school officials, who have until April 21 to apply, Freeholder James F. Lacey said. He said the completed applications will be reviewed by a subcommittee of the county’s Solid Waste Advisory Council, made up of Theresa Lettman, James Boekholt Jr., Suzanne Pleanarski and Angela Kacsur. If the group’s recommendations are approved by the Solid Waste Advisory Council, grant awards will be announced by June 15.

Solid Waste Management Department Director Ernest J. Kuhlwein Jr. said the grant program is in its 11th year and has awarded more than $1.4 million to improve recycling facilities in that time.

The money comes from a Recycling Enhancement Act Tax of $3-a-ton collected at the privately owned landfill in Manchester Township.

Lacey said grants of up to $35,000 are available to upgrade recycling centers. Schools can get up to $5,000 to boost recycling efforts. Last year Lacey said 18 schools shared $27,819 in grant funds.

Local officials have used the money to buy rolloff containers, install fencing and lighting, pave sites and make other improvements to recycling centers, according to Lacey.

Applicants have to agree to provide a 50 percent match for the grants.