Chester Township Achieves Sustainable Jersey Certification
Sustainable Jersey representatives announced that Chester Township has met the rigorous requirements to achieve Sustainable Jersey certification at the bronze-level. Chester Township is one of 81 municipalities that have attained certification in 2022. The certified towns were announced at the Sustainable Jersey Annual Luncheon on November 15, 2022 in Atlantic City at the New Jersey State League of Municipalities Conference. Sustainable Jersey's participating communities represent over 82% of the state's municipalities.
To become Sustainable Jersey certified, Chester Township submitted documentation to show it had completed a balance of the required sustainability actions, meeting a minimum of 150 action points. In addition to reaching 150 points, each certified community had to create a green team and select at least two out of fourteen priority action options. Chester Township completed two priority actions - a Natural Resource inventory and a fleet inventory - as well as many projects including a Monarch way station, community garden, well water testing, tree giveaway, stormwater education, recycling programs, prescription drug disposal, open space planning, farmland preservation, and more.
“The Sustainable Jersey certified municipalities demonstrate sustainability excellence. The annual awards event is a celebration of their accomplishments,” said Randall Solomon, director of Sustainable Jersey. “As New Jersey faces issues such as the climate crisis, a growing equity divide and environmental pollution, the certified towns exemplify the commitment we need to accelerate the transition to a sustainable New Jersey.” Certified towns excelled in areas such as improving energy efficiency, health and wellness, reducing waste, sustaining local economies, protecting natural resources and advancing the arts.
This is the fifth time that Chester Township has achieved Sustainable Jersey certification since the program’s inception. Certification cycles present the opportunity to renew every three years. The Chester Township Environmental Commission oversees this program at the local level.
About Sustainable Jersey
Sustainable Jersey provides tools, training and financial incentives to support communities as they pursue sustainability programs. Sustainable Jersey participants (municipalities and schools) have successfully implemented and documented over 23,467 sustainability actions. Sustainable Jersey has provided over $7.2 million in grants to municipalities, school districts and schools for community-based projects that create healthy and sustainable communities in New Jersey.
Pictured are Environmental Commission members Peter Maddi and David Ayers accepting this year's award from Randall Solomon, Executive Director (left), Sustainable Jersey, and Gary Sondermeyer, Chairperson, Sustainable Jersey Board of Trustees (right).
For more information about the Sustainable Jersey program, visit www.SustainableJersey.com
