(07/42) TRENTON -The Department of Environmental Protection is providing nearly $4.2 million in grants to support county and municipal recycling programs, Commissioner Lisa P. Jackson announced today.

“Recycling remains one of the best hands-on ways for individuals to protect their environment,” Commissioner Jackson said. “Not only does recycling save landfill space and conserve natural resources, it also reduces the emission of greenhouse gases by allowing industries to use less energy. Every ton of plastic, paper, glass, and metal cans that is recycled reduces the emission of greenhouse gases by about a ton.”

Recycling also supports more than 27,000 jobs and generates approximately $6 billion in receipts each year in New Jersey, Commissioner Jackson said.

The DEP recycling grant awards are based on the recycling performance of each county or municipality during calendar year 2005, the latest year for which statistics are available.

In 2005, New Jersey generated 21.5 million tons of solid waste, of which 10.1 million tons were sent for disposal. New Jersey recycled 11.4 million tons of materials - including municipal solid waste as well as commercial waste such as scrap iron, concrete, and wood - for an overall solid waste recycling rate of 53 percent.

Of the total waste stream, 10.5 million tons was categorized as municipal solid waste. Of this total, more than 3.5 million tons, of paper, glass, cans and plastics, were recycled, for a 34 percent municipal solid waste recycling rate.

The Solid Waste Management Act provides the framework for the collection, transportation and disposal of solid waste in New Jersey. DEP is required to implement a Statewide Solid Waste Management Plan, which outlines steps that state, county and municipal governments need to take to achieve recycling goals.

The Clean Communities and Recycling Grant Act, enacted in December 2002, provides the mechanism for funding the recycling grants through nominal fees on litter-generating products. This law also provides financial assistance to municipal and county anti-litter programs through a separate grant program.

To view the list of grant recipients, go to: http://www.nj.gov/dep/dshw/recycling/stats.htm