Healthy Towns, Healthy Schools Campaign
- Reduce Toxic Pesticide Use!
- Use Green Cleaning Products!
- Reduce Vehicle Emissions!
NJ Environmental Federation (NJEF) is urging towns to take the "Healthy Schools, Healthy Towns" pledge and adopt pesticide, green cleaning, diesel, and no-idling policies. NJEF canvass staff is informing residents across the state about this effort through our annual door to door education and fundraising drive.
For the past 20 years, NJEF's successful organizing efforts have led to concrete results. To date we have helped hundreds of towns implement successful green programs (see our Healthy Schools, Healthy Towns Leaders factsheet).
NJEF's canvass campaign was recently featured in the Verona-Cedar Grove Times.
Please continue reading below to find out how you can help your town and schools go healthy, clean and green. For more information, contact an NJEF representative today at 732-280-8988 or email jvickers@cleanwater.org.
Reduce Toxic Pesticide Use
NJEF believes that it's important to reduce and/or eliminate toxic pesticide use in public parks, playgrounds and schools where our children learn and play. Many studies show a direct correlation between pesticide exposure and the development of cancers in children, such as leukemia, tumors and brain disease. The NJ School Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Act (effective date June 2004) requires all public, private and charter schools to provide 72 hour parental & staff notification of a chemical pesticide application, 7 hour reentry delays and a shift to low-impact pest control methods.
NJEF can:
- help evaluate your current pest control practices;
- refer you to ready made educational training
- materials, model policies and websites.
- provide school IPM coordinator training and CEU credits for staff, facility managers, and IPM coordinators.
- help you pass a Pesticide Reduction Resolution and establish "Pesticide Free Zones" (PFZ) in parks and playgrounds.
For more information, visit our pesticides page or contact Jane Nogaki at janogaki@cleanwater.org to find out how you can get involved.
Green Cleaning Policy
Green cleaning practices can provide improved indoor air quality, reduce health risk from exposure, and protect the environment, while maintaining a healthy level of cleanliness and disinfection. All of NJ's state properties and authorities are now required to purchase and utilize green cleaning products (Executive Order #76, 2006). If you want to go green at home, school and other public facilities, you must take your own initiative.
NJEF can:
- offer trainings and educational materials regarding least toxic, readily available and affordable green cleaning products for home, school and other facilities;
- help you pass a green cleaning policy.
Contact Peggi Sturmfels at psturmfels@cleanwater.org to find out how you can get involved.
Diesel Reduction and No-Idling Pledge
According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) data, New Jersey faces the nation's 2nd greatest cancer risk from diesel soot. Up to 25% of NJ's school age children are asthmatic-the leading cause of school absenteeism and increased visits to the emergency room on hot summer days. In 2005, NJ voters approved a dedicated fund to retrofit publicly owned diesel vehicles and school buses with emission controls.
NJEF can:
- help you pass municipal and school "no idling" ordinances to enhance enforcement of an existing state "no idling" law for diesel vehicles.
- help create "kids clean air zones" where trucks are rerouted, electrified while stationary for long periods of time, and/or local diesel vehicles and equipment are retrofitted with exhaust filters.
For more information on diesel, contact Kim Gaddy at kgaddy@cleanwater.org or visit NJEF's Kids Clean Air Zone web page.
For more information on Idle Free New Jersey, contact Jenny Vickers at jvickers@cleanwater.org or visit NJEF's Idle Free New Jersey web page.
Success Stories
Pesticides:
- For Organization, Change is in the Air, Verona-Cedar Grove Times, February 2007
- Hazlet Bans Pesticide Use in Sections of Parks, The Independent, October 2006
- Environmentalists Aim to Make Parks Pesticide Free, The Hub, July 27, 2006
- Chemical-Free Zone (Clifton), The Herald, July 11, 2006
- Vista Park in Pine Beach Now a Chemical Free Zone, Ocean County Observer, June 18, 2006
- Park Areas Are Now Free of Pesticides, Burlington County Times, June 6, 2006
Green Cleaning:
- Green Cleaners Pass School's Test (Red Bank), Asbury Park Press, Oct 27, 2005
- Free Cleaning Products Makes It Easy to Be Green (Brick), Ocean County Observer, January 27, 2005
