Caldwell Recognized By the State for Superior Sustainability Efforts

Representatives from the town of Caldwell Environmental Commission were on hand Nov. 18 in Atlantic City to receive a plaque in recognition of the town’s achieving bronze certification through the statewide Sustainable Jersey program.

The award was then presented on Dec. 2 to members of the Caldwell Council, led by Mayor Ann Dassing, who praised the commission’s yearlong, meticulously judged efforts in the non-profit program that promotes sustaining high quality of life standards.

“Caldwell is fortunate to have such active Environmental Commissioners who are always ready and willing to take on new tasks for the sake of improving our earth,” Dassing said in a statement.

“To be recognized with a Bronze Certification of sustainability from the state of N.J. is a true testimony of their love of a clean environment, and their wish to leave it even cleaner for their children and grandchildren,” Dassing added. “I applaud their efforts and thank them for their many hours of work to make this award a reality.”

The recognition came after Caldwell had submitted documentation to show it completed a balance of the required sustainability actions, with a minimum of 150 action points needed for bronze.

In reaching 165 points, Caldwell completed the required mandatory and priority actions along with several additional actions. Among them: An updated natural resources inventory (completed with the help of the Council), energy education efforts, anti-idling education, an open space plan and a tree maintenance program.

Caldwell is one of 144 towns among the state’s 419 registered municipalities that have met the rigorous requirement for certification. At the 99th annual New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference at the Crown Ballroom, Sheraton Convention Center Hotel in Atlantic City, town environmental commissioners Ann Marchioni (cochair), Robert Edelstein (cochair) and Joe Santaiti accepted the award for Caldwell—one of 36 towns to receive the new bronze recognition.

“Becoming Sustainable Jersey certified is a significant achievement,” said Pam Mount, chair of the Sustainable Jersey Board of Trustees. “The certified towns demonstrate tremendous leadership and are a testament to how much we can accomplish with impressive sustainability initiatives in New Jersey.”

For more information about the Sustainable Jersey program, click here. Click here for more details about the commission.