Ridgewood Earns Sustainable Jersey Certification

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 27, 2023

Contact: Keith Kazmark, Village Manager – 201-670-5500 ext. 2202

Ridgewood Earns Sustainable Jersey Certification

Ridgewood, NJ – Ridgewood has met the rigorous requirements to achieve Sustainable Jersey certification at the bronze-level. Certified towns were announced at the Sustainable Jersey Annual Luncheon on November 14, 2023, in Atlantic City at the New Jersey State League of Municipalities Conference. Sustainable Jersey's participating communities represent over 83% of the state's municipalities.

Ridgewood’s Deputy Mayor Pamela Perron asserted, “Our Green Team does a terrific job pursuing the Sustainable Jersey path to a healthier planet.  With creative initiatives such as No Mow May and Project 1,000 Acres, we hope to attain Silver certification in 2024.”

For the 2023 Sustainable Jersey application cycle, 40 towns achieved certification at the bronze-level to make a total of 136 towns that are bronze-certified in the program. Bronze-level certification requires that a town meet a minimum of 150 points.

“We’re proud to recognize the 2023 award winners and certified towns who have made sustainability an integral part of their municipality,” said Randall Solomon, director of Sustainable Jersey. “Thank you for your leadership, hard work and vision. You exemplify the commitment we need to achieve a sustainable New Jersey.” Certified towns excelled in areas such as improving energy efficiency, health and wellness, reducing waste, sustaining local economies, protecting natural resources and advancing the arts.

In 2023, Ridgewood earned Sustainable Jersey credits for the planting of 280 trees, publishing a natural resource inventory as part of its recent Master Plan update, installing four electric vehicle charging stations in the town’s new parking garage, purchasing a Styrofoam densifier for its Recycling Center, adopting a tree protection ordinance and developing a Community Forestry Plan.

About Sustainable Jersey

Sustainable Jersey provides tools, training and financial incentives to support communities as they pursue sustainability programs. As New Jersey faces issues such as the climate crisis, a growing equity divide and environmental pollution, municipalities want to be a part of the solution to these challenges. Sustainable Jersey participants (municipalities and schools) have successfully implemented and documented over 25,569 sustainability actions. Sustainable Jersey has provided over $7.6 million in grants to municipalities, school districts and schools for community-based projects that create healthy and sustainable communities in New Jersey. www.SustainableJersey.com