Sustainability Efforts In Long Valley Honored At Statewide Ceremony

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Long Valley has been recognized for its commitment to sustainability by a statewide nonprofit organization, Sustainable Jersey.

Sustainable Jersey is a program that assists communities in their efforts to create a more sustainable future.

The township received a bronze-level certification with 175 points for 2022 and is among 81 municipalities that have attained certification for this year. Certified towns are considered an exceptional group of municipalities that are making significant contributions to the long-term goal of a sustainable New Jersey and world.

"We are grateful to the Washington Township Green Team without which certification from Sustainable Jersey would not have been possible. In addition to preparation of the application, many of the points awarded for certification were the result of volunteer work by the Green Team, such as the bioswales and pollinator garden at Harrington Park," Mayor Matt Murello said.

The Washington Township Green Team sees itself as a catalyst for fostering an understanding of what sustainability entails in Long Valley. The team is also in charge of determining how to track and evaluate progress toward the long-term sustainability goal.

"The Green Team also played a vital role in planning the nature trail that was part of the municipal trail extension project in Harrington Park a couple of years ago partially funded by a county grant," Murello said.

To learn more about the Washington Township Green Team and its initiatives throughout the township, click here.

Long Valley completed a rigorous program to become Sustainable Jersey certified. Bronze certification indicates that the municipality has been recognized for making a commitment to sustainability and successfully implementing the first significant steps.

To become certified at the bronze level, Long Valley officials submitted documentation to show the township had completed a balance of the required sustainability actions, meeting a minimum of 150 action points.

Among the required actions are ordinances, programs, policies and procedures, and facility improvements. For each action, a detailed resource and step-by-step "how to" instructions were also required.

In addition to reaching 150 points, the community had to create a green team and select at least two out of 14 priority action options.

Sustainable Jersey has awarded grants totaling more than $7.2 million to municipalities and school districts in New Jersey for community-based projects that promote healthy and sustainable communities.