Ocean County, NJ to Receive Grant to Improve Recycling Infrastructure

Ocean County, New Jersey is set to receive a grant to improve its recycling program with new, state-of-the-art technology.

Announced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) the $1,867,163 Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant will finance the installation of an artificial intelligence-powered optical classification system, a plastic film air conveyance system, and a secondary eddy current separator at the county’s MRF (Materials Recovery Facility) in Lakewood.

“This grant will help support its award-winning efforts,” said Smith.

The SWIFR grant comes from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.

Barbara Jo Crea, Ocean County Commissioner and liaison to the county’s Department of Solid Waste said that the county’s $8 million investment over the last five years into its recycling efforts was a significant factor in receiving the grant. According to Crea, the grant will allow Ocean County to continue its expansion of recycling programs and increase its overall value of recycling in Ocean County.

The new systems will look to improve waste stream analysis in Ocean County, remove plastic bags during sorting, and efficiently separate aluminum materials.

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