Cumberland County Improvement Authority

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2006

CUMBERLAND COUNTY CLEAN COMMUNITIES PROGRAM RECEIVES STATE AWARD

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NJ: The Cumberland County Clean Communities Program was recognized recently with a Glitter Award for outstanding achievement by the New Jersey Clean Communities Council. The award was presented to Cumberland County Clean Communities Coordinator Dennis DeMatte, Jr. at the 3rd Annual New Jersey Clean Communities Council Seminar and Awards Banquet which was held at the Renault Resort in Galloway Township.

"I am extremely proud of the efforts the Improvement Authority staff, County residents, and businesses have put into making the Cumberland County Clean Communities Program one of the top programs in the State," said Steven R. Wymbs, Cumberland County Improvement Authority Executive Director. "In addition, I want to thank the Improvement Authority Board for their unwavering support of this program, even when grant funding from Trenton did not exist. As a result, we have been able to stay focused on our mission of education, enforcement, and clean-up in order to protect and preserve our County's natural environment for future generations to enjoy."

"One of the key reasons for the success of this program is the partnerships the Improvement Authority have been able to form throughout the County," said Virginia Curliss, Improvement Authority Board Recycling Committee Chairwoman. "This includes partnerships with local municipalities, over 240 private Adopt-A-Road groups, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department S.L.A.P. Program, the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Department, the Federation of Sportsmen, and thousands of citizen volunteers who have participated in our Public Lands Clean-up Program."

"In addition, the Clean Communities Program contracts with Easter Seals of New Jersey to provide a litter crew that covers the 560 miles of County roadways on a continuous basis," said Dennis DeMatte, Jr. "To put it in perspective, covering both sides of our County roads is equivalent to driving from Cumberland County to Florida. It is a massive undertaking."

"With this in mind, picking up litter is just one side of the Clean Communities Program equation," DeMatte continued. "Litter prevention through education is also very important. The goal is simple; to modify the public's attitude toward litter while building community support for anti-litter campaigns and County roadside beautification. This award helps to validate our efforts and provides the incentive to do even more in the future."

The Cumberland County Clean Communities Program is administered by the Cumberland County Improvement Authority. Since 1990, the Clean Communities Program has removed over 3.2 million pounds of litter and illegally dumped waste, including over 13,000 tires, from the County's roads and protected woodlands. For more information on Improvement Authority sponsored recycling programs, please call 856-825-3700 or visit our Web site at www.ccia-net.com.

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For more information about this press release, please contact Dennis DeMatte, Jr. at 856-825-3700.