Contact Wantage Clean Communities
Clean Communities Coordinator
Ken Karnas
phone: 862-268-1891 or 973-875-5316
email: kkar495@hotmail.com
New Jersey Clean Communities is a statewide, comprehensive, litter-abatement program created by the passage of the Clean Communities Act in 1986. The mission is to reduce litter in public places, promote the volunteer cleanup of public lands and sustain a reduction in litter through education. The Act provides a funding source for the program by placing a tax on fifteen categories of businesses that may produce litter-generating products. The program focuses on three areas: cleanup, education and enforcement. For more information on the state program visit njclean.org.
Litter is solid waste that is out of place. It's the kind of trash found on highways, lakefronts, parks and school grounds. Litter takes many forms: paper, plastics, metal cans, cigarette butts, glass, food packaging, tires and graffiti.
There are at least seven sources of litter: pedestrians, motorists, overflowing household garbage, overflowing commercial containers, loading docks, construction sites and uncovered trucks. Litter is often blown by the wind until it is trapped somewhere or goes down a storm drain.
People tend to litter when they think someone else will clean up, when an area is already littered, and when they do not feel a sense of ownership or community pride.
Even small amounts of litter are unsightly, unhealthy and dangerous. Litter causes blighted landscapes resulting in an increase in taxes and a decrease in tourism and industry; loss of civic pride and morale; and a negative public image. Litter can also cause accidents, especially on roadways, fires and disease in people and animals.
In addition to the efforts of local governments, residents, schools, civic associations and non-profit organizations are enlisted as volunteers to help with cleanup events. At these cleanup events we offer education to volunteers while they pick up litter so they become environmental stewards. With education, acts of littering can be changed!
Wantage Township Clean Communities program is part of a statewide strategy to clean and prevent litter on streets, beaches, waterways, parks, recreation sites and vacant lots. Clean Communities Grant funding is used for educational programs, enforcement of littering/dumping laws, supporting clean up events, and implementing Township roadside cleanups.
Help us keep Wantage Township clean! Your civic/social organization can earn a stipend while cleaning a section of a Wantage Township road. See Cleanup Guidelines.
The safety of our volunteers is important. Please review safety protocols before conducting any cleanup programs and encourage volunteers to watch the NJCCC safety video: https://njclean.org/aag-individual-safety-video
Education is communication in a more complex form. It aims to change the attitudes that cause littering. The basic premise of the New Jersey Clean Communities program is to change habits so residents do not litter, bring their own reusable bags when shopping, skip the straw, and other sustainable practices. A long-term education program will teach both residents and visitors the ramifications of littering and ways to work together to prevent litter from affecting our state.
"Public lands all over New Jersey are being used as dumping grounds. Litter, garbage bags, tires, televisions, electronic waste, appliances, yard waste, and construction debris are being dumped and threatening our local environment, animals and public. This dumping detracts from the natural beauty of our public lands; it decreases property value, and costs the citizens of New Jersey tax dollars to cleanup." -NJDEP
Sussex County Division of Health
sussex.nj.us
health@sussex.nj.us
973-579-0370
For information on Business Compliance please contact the New Jersey Business Action Center https://business.nj.gov/recent/disposable-bag-ban
The NJDEP offers a free and easy to use app that can be downloaded onto your smartphone device. Click on the following link and start reporting illegal dumping sites in New Jersey. https://www.stopdumping.nj.gov/instructions.htm
State NJCC Website: www.njclean.org
State Bag Up NJ Website: www.bagupnj.com
NJDEP Single Use Plastics Website: https://www.nj.gov/dep/plastic-ban-law/
Sign Up for NJCC Newsletter: https://njclean.org/register-for-web-news
NJCC Certification Training: http://www.cpe.rutgers.edu/courses/current/er0400ca.html
On Nov. 4, 2020, Governor Phil Murphy and the New Jersey Legislature enacted the most progressive bag ban law in the country. The law reduces litter and encourages the use of reusable bags by phasing out single-use carryout bags.
The law bans single-use plastic bags, regardless of thickness, at grocery stores and retail establishments, as well as paper bags at grocery stores equal to or larger than 2,500 square feet. It also bans polystyrene foam takeout food containers and other products such as plates, cups, food trays and utensils. As of November 4, 2021, plastic straws will only be available upon request.
The "Bag Up NJ" campaign is the New Jersey Clean Communities Council’s new single use plastic and paper bag ban outreach campaign, which has a simple message: Bring your own reusable bag(s) when you shop.
As a consumer, there are many ways you can reduce your carbon footprint!
For more information on the NJ Bag Ban Law, please visit: https://www.nj.gov/dep/plastic-ban-law/
Plastic straws are one of many items that contribute to litter, so Skip the Straw or bring an reusable one. As of Nov. 4, 2021, straws are only be available upon request in NJ.
New Jersey Single Use Plastic Ban Law:
https://www.nj.gov/dep/plastic-ban-law/docs/plastic-bag-law-c117.pdf
