Kathleen Margiotta, Working Everyday for a Trash-Free Morristown

Kathleen Margiotta is happy to talk trash with you.

In the late 1980s, Morristown was different in many ways than it is today. One of those ways, the Morristown Clean Communities Director remembers, is in the amount of garbage one could find on the streets.

"I would get so upset," she said. "In the late 80s, it was kind of dumpy. Back then, it was still kind of kooky to carry a plastic bag around."

But, Margiotta did and, as a result of that passion for a cleaner Morristown, founded the Clean Communities program in 1990–as well as served on the Town Council from 1990 to 1998.

Today, her political career long a thing of the past, Margiotta continues her duties with Clean Communities, a part-time program that works with the town on various cleanup initiatives, including the 20-year-old , and , which has paired volunteers with specific spots in town they maintain throughout the year–"adopting" them–for 10 years.

In addition, Margiotta has taken her expertise in landscape design, often working with the town Department of Public Works on various projects. She has even made time in her busy schedule for a career outside of town government, as founder and instructor for Yoga to Go.

Margiotta said the cleanup programs, as well as an overall mindset shift over the last several decades, has reaped rewards for the cleanliness of Morristown, and has been able to allow a shifted purpose for programs such as the Townwide Cleanups.

"At every cleanup, it used to just be, 'get rid of litter,'" she said. Today, in addition to picking up trash, the many who volunteer have opportunities to work on other town beautification projects, including landscaping, clearing overgrowth and more. "Each year, [the trash] gets less and less," Margiotta said.

The maven of Morristown maintenance is free with her praise for many people who, today, see litter as something far less acceptable than once upon a time. "There is just a whole general attitude that litter is no longer acceptable," she said.

However, Margiotta is not prepared to let everyone off the hook. "But, some people are selfish," she said. "They just don't think about anyone but themselves.

"I try my best to educate people, and I'm happy to do it," she added. "I'm always happy to talk trash."

Still, when presented any direct praise, Margiotta is quick to offer a correction. "I'm a facilitator, that's all I am," she said. "I'm really just here to get the message out.

"Litter is unsightly, unsafe and costly," Margiotta said. "It's a very basic thing. Where would you rather live, work and play?"