Take Sustainable Challenge and Live Green

At this Saturday's Morris Plains Farmer's Market, residents can take part in a challenge to lead more of a "green" life.

The event, the Sustain the Plains Challenge, will be presented by the Sustain the Plains Committee, the borough's group that is working to make Morris Plains more of an environmentally friendly community.

Residents can participate in the challenge by choosing several sustainable activities to take on in their own homes. The pledge lists out all of the activities, and they are separated by category worth one point, two points, or five points. The higher the points, the more challenging the action is.

Particpants have until July 31 to complete and return the challenge form and mail it to Sustain the Plains Challenge at 531 Speedwell Ave., Morris Plains, NJ 07950.

"As a town, as a municipality, there are things we should do to help the town to save money and resources, but it really contributes when at home residents are thinking sustainability," said councilwoman and Sustain the Plains Committee member Laurie Fu.

Community members must pledge a minimum of 10 points to participate in the challenge. Those who pledge 10 points or more will be entered in a drawing to win a compost bin or a recycling bin with wheels. One entry per household is allowed, and the winner will be chosen on July 31.

Participants can choose from a variety of activities that they are willing to take on. Some of the options worth one point include pledging to turn off the water while brushing teeth, turning off the lights to leave the room, and reducing shower time to two minutes. Pledges in the two-point category include washing laundry with cold water and purchasing products made from recycled materials. Examples for five-point activities are taking part in community cleanup, and using public transportation, riding a bike or walking instead of driving at least twice per week.

"It's a practice to get people to live in more sustainable ways," said Fu, "to think about what they're doing in their day-to-day lives that can help them be sustainable."

The committee will have a table set up at the farmer's market where they will hand out Sustain the Plains Challenge pledges to those who wish to participate.

This event is part of the Sustain the Plains Committee's mission of making Morris Plains a certified sustainable community.

In order to become certified, the borough must obtain a certain amount of credits in the Sustainable Jersey Program by participating in various "green" activities.

To reach the bronze level in certification, the town needs 150 points. The Sustain the Plains Challenge is worth 10 points, and Fu said she believes after this event the borough has enough actions to make its submission to become certified.

The most recent event held by the committee was a , where an environmental educator came to the borough to inform residents about about backyard composting and rain barrels.

Fu said that one of the committee's next projects is to put together a community map that shows the recreation areas and resources in the borough. She said the map would list out the walking and biking areas.

Forms for the challenge can also be found on the Morrs Plains wesbsite.