1. Pesticide Free Zones
2. Clean and Green
3. Kids Clean Air Zones
4. Idle Free New Jersey

New Jersey Environmental Federation (NJEF) is urging New Jersey municipalities and counties to become Healthy School, Healthy Towns by adopting several policies that help reduce toxins, clean the air, reduce global warming, and protect public health. These policies include adopting "Pesticide Free Zones" in public parks and playgrounds; "Green Cleaning" policies in municipal buildings, schools, and businesses, as well as passing "Kids Clean Air Zones" and "Idle Free New Jersey" 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 Leadersfact sheet.

Is Your Town, School or Business Healthy? Read below for a guide on how you can become a health school, healthy town. Follow the steps for each campaign, browse through materials in the box on the right hand side of the page, or contact an NJEF representative for a free training and implementation today at 732-280-8988 or email jvickers@cleanwater.org.

1. Pesticide Free Zones & Integrated Pest Management

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 New Jersey 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:

• 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)

For more information, visit our Green and Clean page or contact Peggi Sturmfels for a free training and implementation.

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, New Jersey 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 for free training and implementation.

Visit our Idle Free New Jersey web page or contact Jenny Vickers for free training and implementation.