Baristanet reports that the program, launched with Creative Outdoor Advertising of America (”COA”), “is designed to enhance the township’s recycling efforts while generating revenue for the municipality”. The 26 recycling stations throughout the town will feature advertising to offset the cost.

“This new program offers residents an additional outlet to recycle while enjoying their time out and about Bloomfield,” said Councilman Nick Joanow, council liaison to the recycling committee and advocate for the new program. “We’re going to bolster our litter abatement program and generate new revenue through this initiative.”

New Year’s Resolutions for Bloomfield
by John Palomaki

I’m sure most of us are happy to give 2009 a swift kick out the door. The economy, jobs, war, healthcare, and climate crisis would be enough challenges for a lifetime. We’re losing trust in our elected officials and institutions. At a time when we need to work together, divisive rhetoric is pushing us apart. We’re losing the middle ground in our economy and in the ability to work together to find solutions.

Fortunately, 2010 is a new year, and all of us in Bloomfield can make some New Year’s Resolutions to think and act in ways that will benefit us all in the long-term, economically, socially, and environmentally, without causing new problems along the way.

By the way, that’s the definition of SUSTAINABILITY. While often used to refer to the environment, it’s just as important to think about sustainability in terms of thriving financially and socially. It’s often called the “triple bottom line” where we measure success not just by someone’s wallet, but on how we all do:  “People, Planet, and Profit” (they’re not mutually exclusive). We just need the will to discard our old unsustainable ways and create newer more sustainable habits and practices.

So, here are a few resolutions we should make for Bloomfield. If you have more ideas, write a letter to the editor or add your comments on www.GreenerBloomfield.org.

1. Build greater civility and seek common ground. Say “Hi” to your neighbor, or even have a nice conversation. Hold the door, apologize when you bump someone, offer to help answer a question or give directions or shovel the snow. We can keep our voices calm, listen, acknowledge and try to understand another’s perspective, and show respect for others, even if we disagree. On virtually every issue, there’s something we all can agree to, and we can seek win-win solutions.
2. Work for change. It’s easy to complain, anonymously write a nasty letter or blog post, or rely on someone else to do it. But change only happens if we work for it. Go to meetings, speak your mind, write letters, and have discussions, but talk about the solutions, how you’d fix the problems or make them better. Volunteer to help, even if it’s just an hour, on any issue you feel passionate about.
3. Set a good example. Someone is always watching what we do, whether it’s a neighbor, a co-worker, a stranger on the street, or a child. Young people especially need positive role models. A good attitude, a good deed, careful words, and even a smile can go a long way toward showing someone there’s a better way.
4. Make a commitment to health. Eat a balanced and varied diet of less-processed and more natural foods, exercise regularly, and spend more time outdoors. Help your kids develop healthy habits. Diabetes is the biggest health issue for children, and limiting sugars and encouraging exercise and more diversity in diets can go a long way to prevent it.
5. Support local efforts. Shop, eat, and play locally, give to local charities, and participate in local events. You’ll use less gas. You’ll be supporting local jobs. You’ll help businesses stay here or start here, which in turn support local organizations and contribute to Bloomfield’s tax base. And you’ll make Bloomfield a more vibrant place to be.
6. Turn your car off. We have great mass transit, from the Bloomfield shuttle to the many buses and trains that go through town. We have bikeable and walkable streets. Leave your car at home or take fewer trips. If you have to drive, don’t idle! Turn your car off after 10 seconds if you’re stopping for 30 seconds or more, while you’re waiting to pick up or drop off your kids at school, when you’re “just running in” to the convenience store, post office, or dry cleaner, or warming up your car on a cold morning. You’ll save gas, save money, keep our air cleaner, and keep our more vulnerable kids and seniors safer from asthma and other respiratory diseases.
7. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Do we really need all the “stuff” we buy? The first step is to buy less, so less stuff is manufactured, packaged, shipped, and discarded. Use reusable coffee mugs, water bottles, grocery bags, recycled paper, and “pre-owned” goods from garage sales and vintage shops. Take advantage of Bloomfield’s top-notch recycling programs, with curbside pickup of all papers, plastics, bottles, and cans and depot drop-off of electronics and clothing each Saturday at Grove Street (recycling even earns our town some money).
8. Support sustainable building, land use, and resource protection. As a township that’s already over 90% built out, we must be careful about how we use the property we have. We need to build and renovate our properties for greater energy, water, and resource efficiency. We need to preserve open space to regenerate air and water quality, provide scenic beauty and recreation, protect habitats for wildlife, and save the Township money (since open space uses fewer costly resources like schools, infrastructure, and services). We should encourage (green) mixed-use development, low-and mixed-income housing, and complete streets programs adopted for the new Downtown Redevelopment and extend them throughout the township for their economic, social, and environmental benefits.
9. Make hard but long-lasting choices. It’s going to be an extremely tough year for municipal and school budgets, with increasing costs (especially salaries and benefits) and decreasing revenues (less state aid and lower tax collections). We must encourage and support our elected officials in making tough but wise choices with a long-term view, just as we have to in our households. All sides need to work together. People may have to sacrifice a little in salaries, benefits, conveniences, and services, so we can have employment levels, budgets, and taxes that we can sustain over a longer time with less dependency on the state. We can insulate buildings better, buy more energy-efficient equipment, and make other capital changes that will reduce annual operating costs. We can use more fuel-efficient vehicles, or use the vehicles we have less. We can turn down the thermostats in the winter. We can print less, print on both sides, make fewer copies, and do more electronically.  We can share or outsource services with other neighboring towns and businesses. We can step up our efforts to find new revenue sources, including grants, property sales and leases, solar access leases, and selling services to other municipalities. We all need to accept and contribute to a new way of thinking sustainably in our school and government operations, as well as in our homes.
10. Celebrate! Celebrate our successes, our family and friends, our diversity, and our heritage. They give us the capacity to understand each other better and make the world a better place.

Remember, it’s not just about us, it’s about our children, our planet, and future generations.

(John Palomaki is a Bloomfield homeowner and the co-founder and coordinator of Greener Bloomfield, a community organization that works toward sustainable living, working, and community in Bloomfield NJ. Greener Bloomfield coordinated actions with the town government and community to be one of the first 34 towns in New Jersey to receive Sustainable Jersey certification. For more information, go to www.GreenerBloomfield.org.)

1. Skip the throwaways: So much of what we buy is destined for the landfill almost as soon as it passes the checkout scanner. Aim to buy gifts and decorations that last, or can be handed down.
2. Put the brakes on driving: We live in a very pedestrian-friendly town. Shops and convenient services are within walking distance of most neighborhoods. It might not be possible to do all your holiday errands on foot, but with so many stores conveniently located, it may be surprising how much you can get crossed off your list within steps of your front door.
3. Satisfy the Foodie: Whether it’s Mexican, Italian or Thai, Bloomfield has some suberb restaurants, many of them offering gift certificates. A meal out is a welcome treat for almost anyone, and is one gift that won’t end up in the trash.
4. Pamper Mom (Dad, Teacher or Pet): Everyone can use a little extra TLC during the winter months. Spa’s such as Flic Spa on Broad Street can be a tropical oasis and offer special packages. If you’re looking for pampering lotions, natural remedies for skin and hair, or a holistic calming spray for your pet, Topical Solutions on James Street has the answer. All of their products are developed and hand-made right here in Bloomfield.
5. Power Down: When helping kids with a wish list, encourage the idea of some gifts that don’t require batteries: books, trips, and old-fashioned board games fan the flames of imaginative, open-ended play.
6. Get Healthy: A membership to one of the many gyms, yoga or dance studios in town gives the gift of total wellness and supports local businesses at the same time. (Garden State Yoga is one you might want to try.)
7. Come Together: Try to carve out some time with friends and family to just be together and remember the “reason for the season.” It can be the perfect recipe for recharging everyone during what is for many the busiest time of year.
8. Freecycle and Recycle: Whatever your circumstances this season, there’s a chance what you need can be had for free on Freecycle.org. This national non-profit has an Essex County group that costs nothing to join. List an item or post an ad for an item you want. Chances are, someone nearby has what you need or can use what you don’t.
9. Make it Personal: A gift certificate of your time, whether it’s two hours of babysitting for a busy parent, or an offer to run errands for an elderly neighbor, is eco-friendly and can be more meaningful than anything store-bought.
10. Have fun!

Contributed by Erin S. Ihde, MA, a mom of two and a pediatric environmental health researcher who lives in Bloomfield.

The conference currently taking place in Copenhagen, attended by 192 nations, is the most important climate conference in world history. Unfortunately, the U.S. position is very weak – only calling for 4% reduction of C02 and other greenhouse gases below 1990 levels, when what is called for is at least 25% – 40%.

If you want to keep up with this 2 week conference, a good website is www.democracynow.org which usually broadcasts from New York, but will be reporting from Copenhagen during the entire conference. You can listen Mon – Fri from 8 – 9 a.m. at 99.5 FM or watch it on line at any time.

In addition, Ted Glick is participating in a climate justice fast with others around the world. You can find out more about this by going to www.climatejusticefast.com where you can read his blog and the blog of others who are making this sacrifice to call attention to the urgency of the crisis that our planet faces.

The 2009 Sustainable Jersey award winners are as follows:

• Sustainability Champion–Large Municipality Category: Woodbridge
• Sustainability Champion–Medium Municipality Category: Ocean City and Summit (tied)
• Sustainability Champion–Small Municipality Category: Woodbine
• Sustainable Jersey Leadership Award: Maplewood
• Sustainable Jersey Innovation Award: Cherry Hill
• Sustainable Jersey Collaboration Award: Chatham Township and Chatham Borough

The 2009 Sustainable Jersey Certified Communities are as follows*:

1. Asbury Park City
2. Belmar
3. Berkeley Heights
4. Bernards
5. Bloomfield
6. Chatham Township
7. East Brunswick
8. Edison
9. Galloway
10. Hillsborough
11. Lawrence
12. Livingston
13. Manalapan
14. Manchester
15. Maplewood
16. Montclair
17. Montgomery
18. Morristown
19. Mt. Olive
20. Ocean City
21. Oceanport
22. Parsippany-Troy Hills
23. River Edge
24. Rutherford
25. South Orange Village
26. Summit City
27. Woodbine
28. Woodbridge
29. Cherry Hill
30. North Brunswick

*Note: Up to six additional communities may be added to the list pending final review of documentation on Nov. 13.

About the Sustainable Jersey Awards

• INNOVATION AWARD: This award recognizes one municipality that contributes most to Sustainable Jersey by pioneering or testing a significant innovation. The award recognizes creativity, originality, and forward-thinking that can lead to new best practices and strategies by which we pursue sustainability.
• COLLABORATION AWARD: This award recognizes two or more municipalities that worked in partnership to implement a program or project. This award recognizes that many sustainability issues must be addressed on a regional scale or require the pooled resources of more than one partner.
• 2009 SUSTAINABLE JERSEY CERTIFICATION: The Sustainable Jersey certified municipalities submitted documentation that showed that they achieved the balance of the required certification actions, meeting the minimum of 100 action points. In addition to reaching 100 points, each community had to create a Green Team and select at least 2 out of 4 priority action options: Energy Audits for Municipal Facilities, Municipal Carbon Footprint, Sustainable Land Use Pledge, and Water Conservation Ordinance.

See the full press release.

“This certification is the result of the collaboration of many volunteers and community organizations with the Township Council and Administration,” said Palomaki. “It shows that great things can be accomplished when we all work together toward common goals. Through this process, we are protecting our environment, providing lasting value to the people who live and work in Bloomfield, and helping people find ways to save money with energy efficiency and conservation.”

“I’m honored to accept this prestigious environmental designation on behalf of the township,” said Mayor McCarthy. “This certification recognizes that Bloomfield is a community on the move, and truly one of the best places to live, work and play in New Jersey.”

The township was notified in a letter by Sustainable Jersey on November 6 of their newest credential. According to the letter, “Municipalities that earn the certification are considered by their peers, by state government, and by the experts and civic organizations in New Jersey, to be among the leading municipalities in the state.”

Bloomfield is one of 28 towns out of the 240 registered municipalities that have attained certification in the first year of the program. Bloomfield will be honored at the Sustainable Jersey awards luncheon on Tuesday, November 17 at the Sheraton Hotel in Atlantic City with Greener Bloomfield Coordinator John Palomaki accepting the award on behalf of Mayor Raymond J. McCarthy and the Township.

“This certificate is the equivalent of the People’s Choice Award for a municipality,” said McCarthy.

“From passing an anti-idling ordinance to purchasing hybrid vehicles to installing energy efficient lighting in our public buildings, we are leading the charge to make our community more sustainable.”

To become Sustainable Jersey certified, Bloomfield submitted documentation to show it had completed a balance of the required sustainability actions, meeting a minimum of 100 action points. In addition to reaching 100 points, each community had to create a Green Team and select at least 2 out of 4 priority action options. Bloomfield did 2 of the 4 priority actions by completing a Sustainable Land Use Pledge and a Water Conservation Ordinance.

Bloomfield’s Township Council passed a resolution in March 2009 designating Palomaki and Greener Bloomfield to coordinate the township’s Sustainable Jersey application. The core team included leadership assistance from Greener Bloomfield members Pat Gilleran, who coordinates Essex Freecycle, Christine Bruncati, a Sr. Research Architect at NJIT, and 2nd Ward Councilman Nicholas Joanow. The Green Team included members of the Township Council, Administration, Recycling Committee, Open Space Committee, Board of Education, Bloomfield College, and Bloomfield Tech; local organizations including the Brookdale Park Conservancy, Essex Freecycle, and Bloomfield Neighborhood Association; and local businesses, students, and members of the Greener Bloomfield organization.

Bloomfield submitted documentation for the following actions:

• Green Team*
• Sustainable Land Use Pledge*
• Water Conservation Ordinance*
• Community Education and Outreach: articles in the Bloomfield Buzz and local papers
• Community Education and Outreach: GreenerBloomfield.org website
• Green Fairs
• Green Design Commercial and Residential Buildings: Bloomfield Center Redevelopment Plan
• Anti-Idling Education and Enforcement Programs
• Natural Resource (Tree) Protection Ordinance
• Recycling Depot
• Electronics and Clothing Recycling
• Waste Reduction: Grass Cut It and Leave It program
• Waste Reduction: Backyard Composting program
• Paperless Council Innovative Demonstration Project

*Priority actions

About Sustainable Jersey

Sustainable Jersey is a certification program for municipalities in New Jersey that want to go green, control costs and save money, and take steps to sustain their quality of life over the long term. The innovative new program is an initiative of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities’ Mayors Committee for a Green Future, the Municipal Land Use Center at the College of New Jersey, the New Jersey Sustainable State Institute at Rutgers University, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Rutgers Center for Green Building, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, and a coalition of New Jersey non-profits, state agencies, and experts in the field. To learn more about the Sustainable Jersey certification visit www.sustainablejersey.com. Program sponsors include the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, PSEG, Church and Dwight, New Jersey Natural Gas, Covanta Energy, Nautilus Solar, the Smart Energy Group and Xerox.

“We are pleased to announce that your municipality has achieved the 2009 Sustainable Jersey certification. The certification is good for three years. Your town is part of an elite group of municipalities that have achieved the prestigious Sustainable Jersey certification in the first year of the program. Municipalities that earn the certification are considered by their peers, by state government, and by the experts and civic organizations in New Jersey, to be among the leading municipalities in the state.”

Greener Bloomfield coordinated the certification effort, which involved the teamwork of many Greener Bloomfield and Recycling Committee volunteers, the Mayor and Township Council, and Township Administration. More to come after the official press release is issued Tuesday!

Participants will walk to Foley Field and take a picture in the shape of 350 (the safe level of carbon in the atmosphere), which will be sent to local newspapers and even to world leaders meeting at The Copenhagen Climate Summit this December. After the photo, the group will return to the college and have lots of activities for everyone. FREE food, music, information and games will be provided. “You don’t have to be into science or going green to support this movement, you just have to a be a human who wants a clean future, without climate change.” Visit 350.org and the BC Green Hearts Movement blog for more information.

“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.