Hillsborough Township has taken multiple steps this year to enact and encourage a cleaner community.
With an intent to beautify the township, Hillsborough officials have endorsed multiple initiatives for eco-friendly habits, which included the introduction of one resident’s mission to raise awareness, as well as a donation to clean up local sites.
The township’s Clean Communities Program and “Kaptain Cleanup Partner for a Beautiful Hillsborough” were introduced to the township, earlier this year when Mayor Frank DelCore, the Department of Public Works Director Rich Resavy, along with Office Administrator Sheila Castellano, who are Clean Communities Grant co-coordinators for Hillsborough Township, officially unveiled “Kaptain Cleanup” at a committee meeting.
“Kaptain Cleanup” made her first Hillsborough Township appearance on Nov. 16 at the township-wide endorsed “Clean Up Day,” sponsored by the Department of Public Works, Parks, the Health Department Recycling Coordinator and Clean Communities Community. Officials said the initiative was successful as it gathered more than a ton of litter removed from Hillsborough’s landscape that day.
“Kaptain Cleanup,” born as Kacey Green, is the daughter of an environmentalist who introduced the importance of being a “steward of the earth” and protecting it from the worlds’ harmful effects. During her childhood travels, Green witnessed the damaging effects that litter can have on the environment and aimed to help communities combat it through examples of education, enforcement and cleanups.
When she moved to Hillsborough, Green took on the identity of “Kaptain Cleanup” as a way to help serve, protect and promote litter free communities where residents are encouraged to become “litter heroes.”
She works with the Hillsborough Clean Communities team with an intent to encourage residents to make an impact on their community.
“The ultimate goal of ‘Kaptain Cleanup’ is to educate and motivate residents in making a choice to get involved and to see the impact being involved has on promoting a beautiful, and clean community that is litter free,” according to a statement released from the township.
In addition to Green’s efforts, Hillsborough’s Clean Communities Program also donated $400 to the Central Jersey Stream Team to fund the purchase of supplies.
The Central Jersey Stream Team is a nonprofit organization aimed to restore Central Jersey waterways and surrounding land for environmental protection and sustainable recreational use, as well as promote community engagement with hands on projects designed to establish and encourage new environmental stewards.
“Through grant funding available from New Jersey Clean Communities, we are able to make this donation to Central Jersey Stream Team to be used for future projects within Hillsborough Township,” DelCore said in a statement.
Jen Riedel, president of planning and grants for the Central Jersey Stream Team, accepted the donation and provided the details regarding the future clean up area within Hillsborough Township, which entailed the Hillsborough side of the river embankment along the Neshanic River and Bridge area.
About New Jersey Clean Communities:
The New Jersey Clean Communities Council, Inc., (NJCCC) is a nonprofit that works closely with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Department of Treasury to administer the Clean Communities program. The council began as an advisory committee to the Department of Environmental Protection’s Clean Communities program in 1989.
In 1995, in the face of state budget cuts that virtually eliminated the state positions that provided program oversight and statewide education for the program, the advisory committee sought and received nonprofit status; and became the New Jersey Clean Communities Council, Inc.
Now in its 15th consecutive year, the Clean Communities Council oversees the implementation of litter abatement programs in 558 municipalities and 21 counties, collects statistical reports, maintains a database of information that tracks local programs and implements a statewide program of public information and education that targets Clean Communities coordinators, schools, and the general public. The Clean Communities Council also administers New Jersey’s Adopt-a-Beach and Adopt-a-Highway programs.
