Bloomfield Applies for Sustainable Jersey Certification
Bloomfield Township is one of only 47 communities in New Jersey to complete its application for Sustainable Jersey certification. The application, submitted by Greener Bloomfield coordinator John Palomaki on behalf of the Township, is currently being reviewed by Sustainable Jersey. Certifications will be announced later in October, and Bloomfield will be recognized as one of the 47 “pioneers” at a special luncheon at the NJ League of Municipalities conference in Atlantic City on November 17. In all, 231 communities registered to start the process.
“This application is the culmination of months of work from many members of Greener Bloomfield, the Bloomfield Recycling Committee, the Mayor and Council, and the Administration,” Palomaki said. “It’s been a group effort, and now our town is one of the leaders in New Jersey in sustainability.” Registration in the program provides Bloomfield with some priority in grant applications, and certification could bring additional funds for sustainability projects in the Township.
Bloomfield submitted actions worth 140 points, with only 100 required for certification. Only five towns in Essex County have applied. Bloomfield submitted documentation for the following actions: Green Team, Community Education and Outreach, Green Fair, Green Design for Buildings, Anti-Idling, Sustainable Land Use Pledge, Natural Resource Protection, Water Conservation, Recycling, Waste Reduction, and an Innovative Demonstration Project for its Paperless Council system.
“New Jersey is the first state in the nation to have a sustainability program that links certification with strong state and private financial incentives, and a fully resourced program of technical support and training,” according to the press release. “The Sustainable Jersey program is now the accepted benchmark for evaluating a municipality’s progress.”
The Sustainable Jersey Awards Luncheon is open to the public for $35 per ticket. To attend, see www.njslom.org.
