Clean Up Day Coming Up In Chatham's Neighborhoods, Parks On Oct. 30

CHATHAM, NJ — Residents in Chatham Township are being asked to roll up their sleeves on Saturday, Oct. 30, as part of the township’s “Clean Communities begin with Clean Neighborhoods” event.

According to a news release from Township Administrator Bob Hoffman, residents can obtain trash bags and gloves from the township, as well as vests and trash grabbers in limited quantities. Residents interested in these items should contact Christie Tragno from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays at 973-377-5114 or can email ctragno@chathamtownship.org or Richard Young, the superintendent of public works at ryoung@chathamtownship.org.

“Residents are encouraged to pick up trash they find in their neighborhoods,” Hoffman said.

He said, this can be accomplished safely from any sidewalk on the township streets. Safe litter pickup is also recommended on the Hillside Avenue Trail; in parks including Shunpike, Nash, Esternay, Gates and Mountainview; at the Colony Tennis Courts; or at Nash and Esternay Fields, Hoffman added.

Township residents who collect litter can bring it that day to the DPW on 405 Southern Boulevard from 3 to 5 p.m., where in exchange they can take reusable shopping bags. The reusable bags, Hoffman said, are a reminder of New Jersey’s upcoming plastic bag ban beginning on May 4, 2022. More information about the plastic bag law is here.

The New Jersey Clean Communities program, which according to its website, was spearheaded in 1986. All 21 counties and 559 towns throughout New Jersey are eligible for grants to help pick up trash, to be used for litter-prevention ordinances and to clean up graffiti, among the grant purposes.

In 2021, New Jersey Clean Communities planned to distribute over $2.3 million in grant funding to municipalities statewide. In Morris County, $97,180.80 of those grant monies were slated for distribution, with $22.410.85 to Chatham Township and $16,734.49 to Chatham Borough. See the full list of municipal grant recipients here.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at:jennifer.miller@patch.com.