MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Sustainable Jersey representatives announced recently that Maplewood has met the rigorous requirements to achieve Sustainable Jersey certification. Maplewood is one of only 25 New Jersey municipalities that attained certification at the silver level in 2016. The township will be honored at the Sustainable Jersey Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, Nov. 15, in Atlantic City with Mayor Vic DeLuca accepting the award.
“We are honored and proud to have earned silver certification,” DeLuca said in a press release. “Maplewood has been a leader as a green and sustainable municipality and this year we established a Township Sustainability Committee to continue moving our green agenda forward. I want to thank our department directors and volunteers on the Green Team and Environmental Advisory Committee for their assistance with our Sustainable Jersey application.”
To become Sustainable Jersey certified at the silver level, Maplewood submitted documentation to show it had completed 34 sustainability actions in 15 categories, earning 365 points — 15 points higher than required for silver-level certification. Among the categories for which Maplewood submitted action plans were energy tracking and management, a green business recognition program, municipal carbon footprint, sustainable land use, prescription drug safety and disposal, and diversity on boards and commissions.
“Sustainable Jersey is incredibly proud of the 74 New Jersey towns that achieved certification this year,” Donna Drewes, co-director of Sustainable Jersey, said in the release. “The 198 Sustainable Jersey certified towns demonstrate leadership and are a testament to how much we can accomplish toward the long-term goal of a sustainable New Jersey.”
Certified towns excelled in areas such as improving energy efficiency and health and wellness, reducing waste, sustaining local economies, protecting natural resources and advancing the arts.
“Collectively the 440 participating Sustainable Jersey towns are a powerful force in New Jersey,” Randall Solomon, co-director of Sustainable Jersey, said in the release.
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