Clean Water on the Move - July 2024

Welcome to Clean Water on the Move, your monthly update from Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund in New Jersey. Take a look at what our amazing staff has been up to and what is coming in the month ahead. Thanks for your ongoing support for our work towards a healthy environment for all.

Stand Against Gaeta Recycling Co. Expansion

Gaeta Recycling Co., Inc. is seeking a permit renewal that would nearly double their operations, despite significant concerns raised by the community. Residents have reported consistent odors and detectable air toxins linked to Gaeta's current facility, highlighting the urgent need to prevent further harm to our health and environment.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is accepting public comments until July 12th. Your voice is crucial in urging the NJDEP to reject Gaeta's expansion proposal due to its potential negative impacts on our community.

Take Action Today

Submit Your Comments: Your feedback is critical. Tell the NJDEP why they should reject Gaeta's expansion. Submit written comments to Gaeta Recycling Co., Inc., c/o Compliance Plus Services, Inc., 240 Gibraltar Road, Ste. 100, Horsham, PA 19044, or email publichearing@complianceplusservices.com. Use these points:

Gaeta plans to increase waste handling capacity from 720 to 1,200 tons per day.
Gaeta has a history of non-compliance, including a 2023 fire caused by improperly handled aerosol cans.
The facility is close to 21 schools, parks, and healthcare facilities, endangering vulnerable populations.
Increased capacity will likely lead to higher emissions, worsening existing health risks.

Sign Our Petition: Join your neighbors in opposing Gaeta's expansion. Add your name to the petition here!

Thank you for your commitment. Your voice is essential for environmental justice. We need your support! For more information, contact X Braithwaite.

Image of Trenton Capitol, NJ. Creative Commons.

State House News

June was intense at the legislature with the state budget process in full swing and flurry of controversial bills advancing despite broad and loud public opposition to the gutting of the Open Records Act (S2930/A4045) and redefining “chemical recycling” (i.e. boiling and melting of plastics) to avoid the state’s environmental justice permit process and solid waste regulations more easily. The later only made it through the Assembly Environment Committee with promises of it being held back in the Senate.

State Director Amy Goldsmith, Zero Waste Specialist Marta Young, Zero Emissions and Warehouse Organizer Tolani Taylor, and Environmental Advocate Molly Cleary, traveled to Trenton this month to fervently testify against these bills.

While the NJ legislature in on summer break, Clean Water Action will work aggressively with our allies to host regional warehouse press events, advance local “Skip the Stuff” ordinances regarding takeout orders (see details below), start building momentum for our packaging reduction and bottle deposit bill, keep the ball rolling on a clean energy Standard that is squeaky clean, as well as fight off false fossil fuel choices like renewable natural gas, low carbon fuel standards, dirty hydrogen. Want to be part of the State House Action, contact Molly Cleary, Clean Water Action Environmental Advocate.

Image of ReThink Disposable program switching single use fruit cups to oranges

Rethink Disposable continues to change lives in NJ

In the past 15 months, Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund’s ReThink Disposable program has helped numerous emergency food providers across the Garden State save a total of nearly $200,000.

We have helped businesses and institutions switch from using single-use disposable foodware to reusables. Plastic plates and cutlery are replaced with good quality reusables, therefore treating people with more dignity and respect by not making them feel like a throw-away society.

These savings lower product and disposal costs thereby enabling non-profits to better help their clients. There is less litter and less pollution going into the waste stream, landfills, incinerators and environment. In this short amount of time, over 3 million single-use disposables (or nearly 15 tons) have been eliminated.

Single use disposables also have public health consequences. Plastic has been linked to numerous cancers and reproductive issues. It has been found in the animals and plants we eat, throughout our own bodies and even in newborns.

At Interfaith Neighbors, Clean Water Action not only provided six Monmouth County senior centers with reusable foodware but also technical assistance to help provide their Meals On Wheels clients with fresh fruit instead of small plastic filled sugary fruit cups, a detriment to those with diabetes (serving over 1,300 daily meals). Interfaith Neighbors does amazing work. With these environmentally friendly changes, they saved money that can now be used towards their many other programs. Want to know more? Contact Marta Young.

Image of Marta Young of Clean Water Action passing a Skip the Stuff ordinance with Hoboken City Council

Skip the Stuff Fight Continues!

Skip the Stuff is a state campaign being led by Clean Water Action to help reduce single use disposables in restaurant takeout orders - by providing cutlery and condiments only upon request. It is a triple win for everyone. Restaurants save money by reducing what they need to purchase, customers reduce what they need to throw in a junk drawer, garbage or refrigerator and the environment is saved from unnecessary toxins from going into the air, water and land. Over 40 billion plastic utensils are discarded each year in the United States alone and most are never use.

Red Bank and Garwood joined those towns who wove a Skip the Stuff ordinance into their 2019/20 bag bans. Now Monmouth Beach, Westfield, Aberdeen and Hoboken have ordinances and Atlantic Highlands has a resolution. Jersey City and Cranford are now working on ordinances. There’s another dozen towns getting close. State legislation has been introduced by Senator Bob Smith (S3195). By passing local ordinances now, like we did with the 2020 bag ban, we demonstrate widespread public support for state policy. It will also help us get the bill to contain the best possible language.

If you are a restaurant owner and want to save money or a local resident who wants to help reduce litter, prevent toxins and proliferation of single use disposables, help pass an ordinance in your town. It is easy to do. View our website and toolkit which includes materials and sample ordinances. Reach out to Marta Young, Zero Waste Specialist. She is happy to join you at your local council, green team or environmental committee meeting.

Graphic Design of New Jersey Warehouse Boom Virtual Webinar

NJ Warehouse Proximity Report Released

On June 18, Zero Emissions and Warehouse Organizer, Tolani Taylor co-hosted a virtual press conference with Environmental Defense Fund to release the NJ Warehouse Proximity Report. The press conference focused on key findings of the report which showcased the impact that living close to warehouses and ports can have on communities.

The report also arrives as state legislators put forward the Warehouse and Port Pollution Reduction Act (S.1117/A3254) or the ISR, Indirect Source Review Bill, a bill that would curb pollution at warehouses and other truck attracting facilities by requiring them to implement concrete emission reduction measures. The bill would direct DEP to establish flexible compliance options alongside permitting requirements to achieve these reductions, with higher thresholds for environmental justice communities.

The press conference included a wonderful array of speakers representing different perspectives of the freight and goods movement industry in NJ like labor, community, environmental justice and policy, in addition to different regions of the state. For access to the report you can check out this recent press release here. and for updates on the Warehouse and Port Pollution Reduction Act, please feel free to reach out to Tolani Taylor at ttaylor@cleanwater.org .

Please also take action today by signing and sharing our ongoing petition directed at the DEP to include warehouses on the EJ Map!

CLEAN WATER NEWS