Sustainable Jersey representatives announced recently at the Sustainable Jersey Luncheon in Atlantic City, that Hillsborough Township has once again met the rigorous requirements to achieve its seventh Sustainable Jersey certification.
Hillsborough Township is one of only 11 New Jersey municipalities to have attained certification at the silver-level in 2018.
In total, Hillsborough Township has achieved seven certifications in nine years, leading all towns in Somerset County and is the second most certified town in all of New Jersey since the municipal certification program began in 2009.
The first three certifications for Hillsborough were awarded at the bronze-level. This is the fourth year in a row that Hillsborough has been certified at the silver level.
“Hillsborough Township began sustainable initiatives in 2006 and was one of the first towns to enter into the Sustainable Jersey program in 2009. Sustainability and planning have been ongoing with the focus being to plan for the future to ensure our community has balanced economic, environmental and social objectives, developed with public input,” Hillsborough Township Deputy Mayor Doug Tomson, liaison to Sustainable Hillsborough Steering Committee, said. “Hillsborough is the most Sustainable Jersey certified town in Somerset County and the second most certified town in New Jersey.”
To become Sustainable Jersey certified at the silver-level, officials from the township said they had to submit documentation to show the township had completed a balance of the required sustainability actions, meeting a minimum of 350 action points.
Actions for which Hillsborough received credits toward the 2018 recertification included to support of local businesses, buy a local campaign, have a municipal complex rain garden, emergency communications planning, Green Living and Wellness Fair, building a healthier community, prescription drug safety disposal and recycled paper purchasing.
Township officials noted that previous actions taken by the municipality in recent years included municipal on-site solar system, hunting and wildlife management, smoke free parks, tree protection ordinance, New Jersey smart workplaces and supporting a farmer’s market.
“Thanks to the efforts of our Business Advocate and Sustainability Director, David Kois, who once again, spearheaded the submission along with the volunteers of the Sustainable Hillsborough Steering Committee and employees from our municipal departments,” Hillsborough Township Mayor Gloria McCauley said. “We are extremely proud of our municipal employees’ involvement and the expansion of sustainable initiatives throughout the community.”
Sustainable Jersey is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that provides tools, training and financial incentives to support communities as they pursue sustainability programs.
Currently, almost 80 percent of New Jersey’s 565 municipalities are participating in the municipal certification program.
