Andrew Martins, Managing Editor
Township officials announced earlier this week that Hopewell has been named one of 70 municipalities throughout the state to attain the Sustainable Jersey certification.
On Nov. 14, Mayor Kevin D. Kuchinski will head down to Atlantic City to attend this year’s Sustainable Jersey awards luncheon to accept Hopewell Township’s certification. The mayor said receiving such recognition at the state level was proof of the township’s commitment to the environment.
“Hopewell Township has a proud history of environmental stewardship and sustainability, and we are honored to be recognized by Sustainable Jersey as one of 70 towns in NJ that attained certification in 2017,” Kuchinski said. “A special thanks to our Environmental Commission and Green Team, and all the other volunteers and township staff that worked towards this certification.”
According to officials, certified towns excel in areas like improving energy efficiency and health and wellness, reducing waste, sustaining local economies, protecting natural resources and advancing the arts.
In order to become Sustainable Jersey certified, officials said a prospective municipality must submit documentation that “show it had completed a balance of the required sustainability action, meeting a minimum of 150 action points.”
Along with the aforementioned action points, officials said Hopewell Township had to have a “green team” and select at least two out of the following 12 priority actions: create a green team; community education and outreach; hold a green fair; farmers markets; green building policy and/or resolution; upgrade/retrofit-light pollution; sustainable land use pledge; natural resource inventory; create an environmental commission; pass a clustering ordinance; pass a tree protection ordinance; recycled paper; prescription drug safety and disposal; community paper shredding day; and non-mandated materials recycling.
Hopewell Township officials said they had completed three priority actions.
Sustainable Jersey is a non-profit organization that provides tools, training and financial incentives to support communities as they pursue sustainability programs. According to the organization, nearly 80 percent of New Jersey’s municipalities are participating in the certification program. In addition, 279 school districts and 694 schools are participating in the Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification program.
“Sustainable Jersey is proud of the 70 New Jersey towns that achieved certification this year,” Sustainable Jersey Director Randy Solomon said. “The 208 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.”
