Mayor Recognizes Green Team

Mayor David Mayer recognized the Gloucester Township Green Team for attaining Sustainable Jersey status in 2011 during the Township Council Monday night.

The local Green Team qualified the township for bronze-level certification in its first year as a Sustainable Jersey community.

"The Sustainable New Jersey program is a program really that was organized to help communities become more sustainable—whether it is economically or through an environmental process," Mayer said.

The mayor pointed to the solar panels that were activated atop the municipal building earlier this year and the recently implemented single-stream recycling program as Green Team achievements.

Councilwoman Michelle Gentek heads the Green Team.

"We were given this wonderful privilege to live here on earth, so we have a responsibility to keep our environment healthy and to keep ourselves healthy," Gentek said. "We need to set an example for our future generations, and that is what our Green Team is doing."

Sustainable Jersey was recognized in April with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Quality Award.

To attain Sustainable Jersey bronze status, towns must create green teams, complete two of six "priority" actions, and compile at least 150 points completed from six of 16 different categories.

The township qualified for Sustainable Jersey certification by completing 17 actions, three of which were considered priority actions, and having a total of 195 points. The certification is valid for three years.