Haddonfield Earns Bronze Certification With Sustainable Jersey

Haddonfield has been recognized for its commitment to the environment.

It is among 59 towns that achieved Sustainable Jersey certification this year, Sustainable Jersey representatives announced Tuesday morning.

Haddonfield achieved Bronze certification, meaning it has implemented significant first steps in a number of categories en route to becoming a fully sustainable town, according to sustainablejersey.com.

Towns must show they have reached at least 150 points to be recognized at this level. To reach Silver Certification, a town must reach at least 350 points.

Each community must also establish a “Green Team” and select two of the seven priority actions to reach Bronze Certification.

Priority actions include energy audits for municipal buildings, a municipal carbon footprint, a sustainable land use pledge, a natural resource inventory, a water conservation ordinance, a fleet inventory, and/or Energy Star Portfolio Manager.

The program’s technical content is developed with the aid of 23 task forces that are made up of state and local officials, experts, non-profit groups and members of the business community. Recommended best practices and actions are vetted with the help of local government officials.

Of the 399 communities that participate in Sustainable Jersey, 137 are now certified.

"This has been a stand-out year.  We are so proud of the significant increase in the number of towns that applied and achieved Sustainable Jersey certification so far this year,” Donna Drewes, who co-directs the organization with Randall Solomon, said in a prepared statement. “Since 2009, when Sustainable Jersey was publicly launched, we have worked with public and private partners to develop local best practices for over 100 sustainability actions, committed over 1.5 million dollars in small grants to 183 community projects in 21 counties, and watched as nearly 400 municipalities pledged to join our movement.”

Eight Camden County towns were certified this year, including Pennsauken, Runnemede, Stratford, Voorhees, Winslow, Collingswood and Camden. Camden achieved Silver Certification. 

Mayors from all 59 towns will accept their award at the Sustainable Jersey Annual Awards Luncheon at the New Jersey League of Municipalities’ Conference on Nov. 19.