River Edge Achieves Sustainable Jersey Certification

Early Tuesday afternoon, Sustainable Jersey announced that River Edge was one of 10 municipalities that had received their 2013 certification. The borough's certification is good for the next three years.

The program is voluntary, but achieving certification is not easy. Each Sustainable Jersey municipality that is certified at the bronze-level must submit documentation to show it has completed a balance of the program’s sustainability actions, meeting a minimum of 150 points. 

"I would like to personally thank Bonnie Stewart and the entire Green Team for all their hard work achieving the borough’s re-certification," Mayor Sandy Moscaritolo said. "Some of our completed actions included: Energy audits, Complete Streets Program, Tree Protection Ordinance,
Community Forestry Plan and Canopy Goal, Tree Planting Programs, Community Paper Shredding Day, Recycling Depot. This accomplishment should also be shared by the Environmental Commission, the Shade Tree Commission and the DPW."

To become Sustainable Jersey certified, River Edge submitted documentation to show it had completed a balance of the required sustainability actions, meeting a minimum of 150 action points to be certified at the bronze level. River Edge surpassed that goal by reaching 185 points. In addition to reaching this goal, the River Edge Green Team
selected at least 2 out of 7 priority action options. River Edge made a Sustainable Land Use Pledge and created a Natural Resources Inventory for its priority actions.

"Sustainable Jersey is successful," Donna Drewes, who co-directs the organization with Randall Solomon, said in a press release. "It champions community-led decision-making and leadership, rather than mandating a top-down, one-size-fits-all plan for New Jersey." 

The technical content of the program’s actions are developed with the help of 22 task forces that comprise New Jersey state local officials, experts, non-profit groups, and members of the business community.  Recommended best practices/actions are vetted with local government officials. 

“It’s quite an accomplishment to become Sustainable Jersey certified,” said Pam Mount, Chair of the Sustainable Jersey Board of Trustees. “Our certified communities are leading the way with impressive sustainability initiatives in New Jersey while providing a model for towns across the United States.” 

Currently Sustainable Jersey's 380 participating communities represent over half of the state's municipalities and nearly 75 percent of its population. 

Also achieving their 2013 certification were Fort Lee, Franklin Lakes, Old Tappan, Paramus, Chatham, Franklin Township, Hope Township, Mount Olive and West Orange.

Follow Patch on Facebook and Twitter or subscribe to our free daily newsletter.