Verona Achieves Sustainable Jersey Certification

Verona, NJ – Sustainable Jersey representatives announced recently that Verona has met the rigorous requirements to achieve Sustainable Jersey certification at the bronze level. Verona is one of 74 towns that have attained certification in 2016 and will be honored at the Sustainable Jersey awards luncheon on Tuesday, November 15 in Atlantic City with Mayor Kevin Ryan accepting the award.

Mayor Ryan states, "we are very pleased to be recognized for recertification this year at the bronze level. We have an outstanding team that continues to push Verona's sustainability initiatives forward. The Township and the community work closely together to create a greener community and uphold the goals and mission of the Sustainable Jersey program. If we can influence some kind of change even at the local level, we see that as a positive step forward in the fight against climate change.”

To become Sustainable Jersey certified, Verona 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 2 out of 11 priority action options. Verona did 2 of the 11 priority actions by completing a 1) Green Business Recognition Program, and a 2) Prescription Drug Safety & Disposal.

“Sustainable Jersey is incredibly proud of the 74 New Jersey towns that achieved certification this year,” said Donna Drewes, co-director of Sustainable Jersey. “The 198 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.”

Certified towns excelled in areas such as improving energy efficiency and health and wellness, reducing waste, sustaining local economies, protecting natural resources and advancing the arts. “Collectively the 440 participating Sustainable Jersey towns are a powerful force in New Jersey,” said Randall Solomon, co-director of Sustainable Jersey.

To get involved with Verona’s green team and sustainability initiatives, contact Steven Neale, stneale@veronanj.org . To participate in Sustainable Jersey free workshops and events held across the state, visit www.SustainableJersey.com .

About Sustainable Jersey

Sustainable Jersey is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that provides tools, training and financial incentives to support communities as they pursue sustainability programs. Currently, 78 percent or 440 of New Jersey’s 565 municipalities are participating in the municipal certification program and 218 school districts and 538 schools are participating in the Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification program.

Sustainable Jersey’s partners include the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, Sustainability Institute at The College of New Jersey, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Clean Energy Program. Program underwriters include the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Clean Energy Program and the Surdna Foundation. The 2016 Sustainable Jersey Small Grants program for municipalities is funded by PSEG Foundation and the Gardinier Environmental Fund. South Jersey Gas and New Jersey Natural Gas are Platinum Sponsors. NJM Insurance Group is a Gold Sponsor, Bayshore Recycling is a Silver Sponsor and our Bronze Sponsors are Investors Bank, Covanta, Energy Solve, JCP&L, GovPilot Direct Energy Solar and SolarCity. The Sustainability Summit venue sponsors are Good Energy and Verizon.

Website: www.SustainableJersey.com; www.SustainableJerseySchools.com

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