The Authority’s road crew staff strive every day to keep Cumberland County beautiful by cleaning Cumberland County’s roads, picking up illegal dumps, and removing litter from designated county roads. To prevent people from littering, blue barrel trashcans are placed at various locations throughout the county and maintained weekly. On average, The Authority’s staff pick about 400-900 pounds of trash a day. Cumberland County participates in the New Jersey Clean Communities, a statewide, comprehensive, litter-abatement program created by the passage of the Clean Communities Act in 1986. The Act provides a funding source for the program by placing a tax on 15 categories of businesses that may produce litter-generating products. The New Jersey Clean Communities Council (NJCCC) oversees the implementation of litter abatement programs in 558 municipalities and 21 counties. The NJCCC implements a statewide program of public information and education that targets Clean Communities coordinators, schools, and the general public. The Authority, through the Cumberland County Clean Communities Program, works diligently to keep the 540 miles of county roads and bridges under its jurisdiction litter-free. The Authority is committed to Cumberland County with a focus on innovative ways to engage volunteers who are willing to give of their time to initiate or join in cleanup events on our roadways throughout our county. These cleanups help achieve a mutual goal of safe, attractive, and litter free roadways. They raise the public’s level of awareness about the alarming increase in the amount of roadside trash. The Authority provides gloves, trash bags, safety equipment, and trash pickup to individuals, groups, and businesses who are diligent in regularly cleaning county roads. The Authority thanks them for doing their part in keeping Cumberland County clean and green.

Awareness of litter and its effects in our neighborhoods and public lands is essential. The Authority is committed to reducing litter, especially through education. The staff is available for classroom or meeting presentations and providing promotional materials. Reading books such as “The Lorax” to students is a fun way to relay the message about individual responsibility for the environment. Free entertainment programs are available to schools and organizations mixing learning with laughter for all ages.

Cumberland County has been the leader in recycling for the State of New Jersey, thanks to the residents, organizations, and businesses. NJDEP statistics recently showed Cumberland County as number one in the state for seven years in a row from 2010 to 2017. New Jersey’s mandatory recycling law (the New Jersey Statewide Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act), which was enacted in 1987, requires recycling in the residential, commercial (business) and institutional sectors (schools, hospitals, prisons, etc.). For more information on recycling in your town, contact your municipal recycling coordinator.

The staff in the Administration Building complete behind the scenes work to keep the Solid Waste Complex operating. In the Administration building, the Landfill Administrator handles the Solid Waste Complex payroll, purchase orders, advertising and marketing, statistical data and communication with other departments, vendors, and customers.