N.J. Admin. Code § 7:26-15.7

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 7:26-15.7 - Application and award procedures for Planning and Programs Grants and Education Grants

(a) Subject to further restrictions contained in (c) below the following shall be eligible to apply for and receive either or both Program and Planning Grants and Education Grants, unless specifically limited to Program and Planning Grants alone or Education Grants alone:

1. Counties, provided that the county has a recycling coordinator during the grant period;

2. Municipalities, provided that the project is not inconsistent with the appropriate county solid waste district management plan(s);

3. Regional recycling coalitions, provided that an ordinance or resolution, as appropriate authorizing application and funding has been approved by the appropriate governing bodies of the coalition members, and that the project is not inconsistent with the appropriate county solid waste district management plan(s);

4. Non-profit groups involved directly with the implementation of recycling or litter abatement programs, provided that the project is not inconsistent with the appropriate county solid waste district management plan(s). Non-profit groups shall be eligible to apply only for Education Grants.

(b) Applications for Planning and Program Grants and Education Grants shall be made at such time as announced on such forms provided and in accordance with any guidelines issued by the Department. Applications shall be submitted to:

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Division of Sustainable Waste Management

Bureau of Solid Waste Planning and Licensing

Mail Code 401-02C

PO Box 420

401 East State Street

Trenton, NJ 08625-0420

1. The applicant shall submit a spending plan setting forth the proposed expenditures for which a Planning and Program Grant and/or the Education Grant will be used.

2. The Department shall review the spending plan for consistency with the recommended uses set forth in (d) and (e) below in accordance with the criteria set forth at (f)1 through 3 below, and shall approve the spending plan and award grant moneys unless the spending plan proposes expenditures inconsistent with (d) and (e) below or unless the proposed expenditures fail to satisfy the criteria set forth at (f)1 through (3) below.

(c) Planning and Program Grants and Education Grant applications shall be subject to the following minimum amounts. The Department shall issue such guidelines as are necessary to encourage counties to include provisions in the applications that will allocate grant monies to municipalities which require less than the minimum amounts.

1. For Planning and Program Grant applications, $ 5,000;

2. For Education Grant applications, $ 2,000.

(d) Planning and Program Grants may be used for any legitimate administrative, planning or operating expenses associated with publicly sponsored recycling programs, including but not limited to:

1. Staff salaries and fringe benefits;

2. Office expenses;

3. Equipment purchases;

4. Enforcement; and

5. Construction of facilities.

(e) Education Grants may be used for any legitimate expenditures associated with recycling and litter abatement publicity, information and education programs, including:

1. The project will further the goals and objectives of the State Recycling Plan;

2. The project's goals, objectives and implementation strategy are clearly stated;

3. The project is practical and has a high probability of success;

4. The value of the materials to be recovered will be comparable to the size of the grant; and

5. The project substantially increases the quantity of recyclable materials removed from the waste stream and actually recycled.

(f) Planning and Program Grants and Education Grants shall be awarded based on the Department's assessments of factors which shall include but not be limited to the following:

1. The ability of the applicant to successfully implement the proposed project;

2. The relative contribution that the proposal will make toward achieving the State's recycling goals; and

3. The cost effectiveness and innovativeness of the proposed projects.

(g) Applicants receiving either Planning and Program Grants or Education Grants shall file annual progress reports with the Department during the grant year and for two years following receipt of the grant. Applicants who receive a Recycling Tonnage Grant pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26-15.5 shall be deemed to have satisfied this requirement.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:26-15.7

Amended by 47 N.J.R. 991(a), effective 5/18/2015.

Administrative Change, 55 N.J.R. 1922(b), effective 7/31/2023