For Immediate
Release:
June 20, 2025
County Commissioners mark 25 years of
service to boaters through Greener Blue pump-out boat
FREEHOLD, NJ – The Monmouth County Board of County
Commissioners is proud to announce the Greener Blue pump-out boat has returned for
its 25th year of service to the recreational boating community.
“Greener
Blue, the County’s pump-out boat, will be celebrating 25 years of operation
this year. It is a free service coordinated by the Monmouth County Department
of Health and Human Services with the goal of limiting pollution in our
waterways,” said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone. "Monmouth County
is a popular tourism destination, thanks in part to its access to waterways for
beach and aquatic activities. It's essential that we keep these areas clean and
safe for everyone to enjoy."
Greener
Blue will service recreational boaters on the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers
and at the Atlantic Highlands Marina (Sandy Hook Bay) on Fridays and Saturdays
from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Boaters can contact the Greener Blue by radio on VHF
Channel 9 or call 732-761-4997 on days the boat is operating. Services will be
provided on a first-come, first-serve basis until Oct. 4.
“More
than 22,000 boats and more than 730,000 gallons of sewage have been properly
disposed of during Greener Blue’s decades of service,” said Commissioner Deputy
Director Susan M. Kiley, liaison to the Department of Health and Human
Services. "Vessels like Greener-Blue help prevent the spread of
disease-causing bacteria and viruses into our waterways, protecting both human
health and local marine life."
Paperwork
is not necessary to use the service and the Greener Blue is available to all
recreational boaters, but services are weather dependent so make sure to check
the County website for updates.
At the
Monmouth County Tourism Kick Off, Cindy Zipf, Executive Director of Clean Ocean
Action, spoke about the positive effects Greener Blue has had on keeping
waterways clean.
“Monmouth
County is one of the first places to have zero discharge areas for its back
bays and has one of the best programs for boaters to get their boats pumped out
and it is called the Greener Blue,” said Zipf. “Greener Blue is celebrating its
25th anniversary this year and boaters need to call and use it, so
we don’t put septic systems into the waterways.”
For
more information about Greener Blue, please go to www.visitmonmouth.com.
# # #
FREEHOLD, NJ – The Monmouth
County Board of County Commissioners is proud to announce the Greener Blue
pump-out boat has returned for a 25th year of service to the
recreational boating community in 2025. Photo by Monmouth County Government.