Sustainable New Jersey
- Reduce Toxic Pesticide Use
- Use Green Cleaning Products
- Reduce Vehicle Emissions
NJ Environmental Federation (NJEF) is urging towns to take the "Sustainable New Jersey" pledge and adopt pesticide, green cleaning, diesel reduction, 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 Sustainable 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, school, and business go healthy, clean and green. For more information, read on below, browse through the materials in the box on the right hand side of the page, or contact an NJEF representative today at 732-280-8988 or email jvickers@cleanwater.org.
1. 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 (pdf) 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.
2. Green and Clean
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:
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- offer trainings and educational materials (pdf) regarding least toxic, readily available and affordable green cleaning products for home, school and other facilities;
- help you pass a green cleaning policy.(pdf)
Contact Peggi Sturmfels at psturmfels@cleanwater.org to find out how you can get involved.
3. Kids Clean Air Zones and Idle Free New Jersey
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 (pdf) and school "no idling" ordinances (pdf) 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.
Visit our Kids Clean Air Zone web page or contact Kim Gaddy at kgaddy@cleanwater.org for more information.
Visit our Idle Free New Jersey web page or contact Jenny Vickers at jvickers@cleanwater.org for more information.
