County Grant Will Improve Recycling in Belmar

The borough of Belmar is looking to further its efforts in going green and the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders is happy to help.

The freeholders presented a $ 22,350 municipal recycling grant to Belmar Councilwoman Claire Deicke and Belmar Public Works Superintendent Andy Meuerle at their December 9 meeting.

"We are putting new recycling bins on Main Street," Deicke said in a Monmouth County Department of Public Information press release. "We are doing a downtown streetscapes project. We continue our effort to be environmentally sustainable, and our downtown will be green in every way. We thank the freeholders and we are thrilled to get this grant."

"It is extremely important for us to do more to encourage recycling at all levels," said Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry of the county's recently revamped Solid Waste Management Plan of which the Municipal Recycling Services Improvement Grants are a component.

"More than $600,000 is expected to be distributed to municipalities through this grant program," Monmouth County Solid Waste Coordinator Lawrence Zaayenga noted.

So far, the program has given $278,350 to 11 Monmouth County municipalities.