Politics & Government

Inmates to Clean Up West Deptford River Banks

Freeholder Director Robert Damminger announces that inmates will soon form a work detail in West Deptford to remove litter and debris along the Delaware River.

With pictures of mounting trash along the Delaware River banks in West Deptford, Freehold Director Robert Damminger announced that inmate cleanup crews will be employed to clear out the area.

“We have all got to pitch in and do a better job of keeping our environment clean, and as a start I have called upon the Department of Corrections community cleanup crews to begin getting this area under control,” said Damminger in a press release.

Damminger said he was taken back when he saw a picture of the banks in the South Jersey Times—littered with trash and debris.

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Comprising nonviolent offenders from the Gloucester County Department of Corrections, the inmates will be closely supervised during the cleanup process, Damminger pledged.

“We all appreciate the natural beauty of our region and we should be vigilant about keeping it clean, not only for ourselves, but for generations to come,” said Damminger.

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Maintaining that it is everyone’s responsibility to keep the area free from trash, the freeholder implored all residents to pick up or recycle any kind of litter.

This announcement comes only a week after Damminger announced the dates for the county’s 2012 Household and Special Waste Collection Program.

The program designates certain collection times and dates for items that should not be placed in the regular waste stream. Items include oil-based paint, motor oil, antifreeze, rechargeable batteries, CFL bulbs, fluorescent tubes, solvents, pesticides and pool chemicals.

Last year the program garnered 180,422 pounds of materials from 1,915 residents.

“The county has a large and aggressive recycling program,” said Damminger. “People can get involved by adopting roads and areas, composting and other environmentally helpful programs to keep our community clean.”

Dates and times for special waste collection are as follows:

  • Gloucester County Solid Waste Complex on April 20 and Sept. 20 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Located at 493 Monroeville Rd. in South Harrison Township.
  • Gloucester County Public Works Department on May 18 and Oct. 19 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Located at 1200 Delsea Dr. in Clayton.

For more information on special collection, Adopt-A-Road or Adopt-A-Spot, residents can visit the Gloucester County website.


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