SEPA

Investing in America through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants
Community Grant Fact Sheet

Ocean County, New Jersey

Selected Grant Recipient

Name: Ocean County, NJ
Project Title: Ocean County Materials
Recovery Facility Improvements
Project

EPA Information

Region: EPA Region 2

Grant Funding: $1,867,163

Ocean County will install a state-of-the-art plastic film air conveyance system and associated baler to
manage plastic bags in the recyclables mix, which continue to plague Materials Recovery Facilities.

Ocean County also will install an artificial intelligence-powered optical classification system,
combining cameras within the facility and cutting-edge technology to analyze the waste stream to
identify potential areas of improvement. Lastly, the County will install a secondary eddy current
separator which is designed to remove aluminum and aluminum foil from the single-stream mix. This
project will result in a 10% improvement in capture rate of aluminum and low density polyethylene
and reduction of MRF residue rate vs the previous three years.

SWIFR Grants for Communities

The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides the largest EPA investment in recycling in 30 years to
support National Recycling Strategy implementation and build a circular economy for all. As part of
the Investing in America agenda, this funding supports improvements to waste management
systems and programs, allowing resources to be used more efficiently and reducing the impact on
the climate. SWIFR Community grant funding can be used to establish or optimize collection and
management of materials; fund infrastructure, technology, or other improvements to reduce
contamination; enhance markets for recycled commodities; and increase the diversion, recycling rate
and quality of materials collected for municipal solid waste. These grants also advance the Justice^

Initiative, which aims to ensure that 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow
to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution.

EPA will make the award to Ocean County once all legal and administrative requirements are
satisfied.

SWIFR State Grant Program Fact Sheet

New Jersey SWIFR State Grant Fact Sheet

Highlights

•	Installs technology to improve sorting and reduce
contaminants, including plastic bags.

•	Creates over 25 jobs.

EPA 530-F-23-007-qq

.ppa.gov/infrastructurp/SWIFR
Spptpmbpr 2023


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