TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, N.J.—The Township of Washington Green Team has been busy promoting a clean town—and encouraging the public to do its part for a cleaner world.
It launched a Styrofoam recycling program in December 2019, giving residents an easy way to dispose of harmful EPS Styrofoam at the Department of Municipal Facilities.
To recognize businesses that eliminate Styrofoam from their operations, the township will award certificates to those that qualify.
The first enterprise to be recognized was Lili’s Bistro, 251 Pascack Road in Washington Town Center.
And Mayor Peter Calamari on Jan. 14 hosted an event at Westwood Regional Middle School, highlighting student involvement with green efforts.
Green Team member Patty Cherruault tells Pascack Press, “We are leading the community to rethink how they can help the environment so that residents may enjoy our town now and in the future.”
She says, “Our key strategy to achieve our goals is reduce, reuse, and recycle. We are proud of our achievements, which include our Community Garden, Safe Streets Program, special recycling events, educating residents about proper maintenance of trees, and tree give-away events.
A Push on Styrofoam, With Collection Bin
Saying Styrofoam is a health and environmental hazard that deserves to be addressed by all residents, the Green Team noted that the Department of Municipal Facilities now accepts EPS foam sheets, coolers, and packaging to be recycled during regular operating hours: Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Tuesdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This state grant-funded program is open to all Township residents (non-commercial) for drop off at the DMF yard. Vehicles must display the DMF resident sticker.
The Green Team said the overall county program is designed to help municipalities ban XPS Styrofoam and recycle EPS Styrofoam.
EPS Styrofoam is readily recyclable, but Bergen County does not yet have the equipment or facilities to process the material. All of its EPS Styrofoam is handled as a non-mandated material subject to solid waste disposal in New Jersey (typically meaning only sanitary landfill disposal).
XPS Styrofoam is commonly used for single-use disposable food ware and is not recycled. XPS Styrofoam is also hazardous to human health due to neurotoxins and likely carcinogens leaching into food and drink.
Both EPS and XPS Styrofoam are hazardous to fish and wildlife and the environment.
In the United States, the materials are made principally from hydro-fracked natural gas and are the fifth most significant source of hazardous waste.
The Westwood Regional Middle School Environmental Club has been doing its part, holding a successful post-holiday Styrofoam collection drive.
Prior to the holiday break, the 6th and 7th grade social studies teachers delivered units on the types of Styrofoam that can be recycled.
Tom Sears, chair of the Washington Township Green Team, provided the school with a Styrofoam recycling display that the teachers and students referred to in their work.
Club members posted signs and advertised the Styrofoam drive. Principal Shelley LaForgia promoted the effort.
According to Sears, “The response from students and faculty was overwhelming. Over two large portable Dumpster bags were filled with Styrofoam.”
Fill it Forward
Also in December, the Green Team was out in force raising funds for its Fill it Forward program, an ambitious effort in partnership with the Westwood Regional School District aimed at diverting massive amounts of plastic from landfills and waterways.
The Green Team started this program at the Westwood Regional Middle School and Westwood Regional Jr./Sr. High School. The program, which is powered by refilling water bottles, will benefit approximately 1,550 students.
Here’s how it works:
The Fill it Forward program will design a custom tag that will connect the user to the Fill it Forward app, taking reuse to a whole new level.
Each time a user refills his or her water bottle—instead of reaching for a new bottle and discarding the old one—a clean cup of water is given to someone in need of a refill, or 2 cents is donated to Water Aid Tanzania: Deliver Life Program.
Halfway through its four-year project, the program is focused on improving maternal health by providing water and sanitation services at 12 obstetric and neonatal care clinics in two rural towns.
Fully 666,000 people will be helped, Cherruault says.
Moreover, Cherruault says, each time a bottle is scanned with the app, the student can track waste diverted, emissions saved, and how much ocean pollution he or she has prevented.
“It will also keep the user hydrated while tracking water consumption, setting goals and reminders,” she says.
“If each student refills their bottle three times a day, we could save 31 pounds of plastic a day, 11,315 pounds of plastic a year,” she says.
The Green Team is still collecting for this effort, backed by matching funds from Oritani Bank Charitable Foundation.
You can help: Make your check out to Township of Washington Green Team and send it to 350 Hudson Ave., Township of Washington, NJ 07676, Attn: Green Team.
For more information call Patty Cherruault at (201) 755-6120 or write her at jcherr88@aol.com. You can call Green Team Leader Tom Sears at (201) 341-2942 or write him at usmc0128@verizon.net.
Silver Standout
In December, Sears presented the mayor and council with the Silver Award the Green Team earned for the New Jersey Safe Routes to School Program.
The Green Team also presented Bethany Community Center its 2019 Environment Friendly Award in appreciation of its support of the Green Team and the community garden.
Last year also saw a successful Second Annual Community Garden on the grounds of Bethany Church, 605 Pascack Road.
