TOMS RIVER, NJ – Ocean County is set to receive a $1,867,163 federal Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant to bolster its recycling program with state-of-the-art technologies. Announced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester), the grant will finance the installation of an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered optical classification system, a plastic film air conveyance system, and a secondary eddy current separator at the county’s Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Lakewood.
Rep. Smith highlighted the grant as a boost to the county’s long-standing commitment to recycling, stating, “This grant will help support its award-winning efforts.” The funding for the SWIFR grant comes from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.
Ocean County Commissioner Barbara Jo Crea, liaison to the county’s Department of Solid Waste Management, cited the county’s $8 million investment over the past five years in its recycling infrastructure as a significant factor in receiving the grant. She said the grant would “allow us to continue to expand our programs and increase the value of recycling in Ocean County.”
The new installations aim to improve waste stream analysis, remove plastic bags during sorting, and efficiently separate aluminum materials. These technologies are expected to minimize damage to existing equipment and improve the quality of the recycling stream.
Ocean County was honored with a 2021 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Award and has distributed nearly $17 million to participating municipalities through its Recycling Revenue Sharing Program since 1995. In 2021, Ocean County recycled over 81,544 tons of material, generating almost $2.4 million in profits from the sale of recyclables.
Rep. Smith said the grant is earmarked for improvements at the Lakewood facility, enhancing the county’s ability to sort recyclable materials efficiently.