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.
ReThink Disposable Hits the Road!
For the past two years, ReThink Disposable in New Jersey has focused on reducing single use disposable foodware with local and state policy. We spearheaded Skip the Stuff legislation (S3195/A5157) as well as annually eliminated nearly 4 million items (over 35k lbs) from going into the waste stream through our partnerships with soup kitchens, Meals on Wheels and senior centers. Clean Water Action estimates cost savings of over $245,000 every year that can be put towards important programs.
Marta Young from our NJ Staff is helping to expand ReThink Disposable’s reach into several National Parks, including Mammoth Cave in Kentucky and Petrified Forest in Arizona. ReThink Disposable will be installing several water refill stations at both National Parks and replacing single use food and beverage ware at their in-park cafes, Starbucks, and campground. Composting will also be collected at both Parks and used for local feed at nearby farms to help create a circular economy. Implementation is expected to begin in late February for dine-in and take-out! Check back here for more updates and case studies!
Extended Producer Responsibility – The Fight Continues
On January 13, NJ’s “Packaging Product Stewardship Act” (S3398), commonly called EPR or Extended Producer Responsibility, was heard in the Senate Environment and Energy Committee. Clean Water Action is co-leading a collaborative effort to put the responsibility on manufacturers to reduce packaging waste by 50% over 10 years, prohibit the most toxic chemicals from being used at all, and eliminate problematic loopholes that defeat the intention of the bill. Clean Water Action is laser focused on the toxics provisions – banning 15 of the worst substances. Another hearing and vote to move it out of committee is expected February 10.
NJ to DC: Molly Cleary Takes Her Advocacy to Senator Andy Kim's Swearing In Event
On January 3rd, 2025, the United States swore in its first Korean American Senator, New Jersey’s own Andy Kim. Molly Cleary, Clean Water Action’s Environmental Advocate, was invited to his celebration dinner in our nation’s capital city, Washington DC. Read more about her experience on our blog!
“The Hidden Costs of Beauty” Webinar
The Hidden Costs of Beauty is a powerful webinar hosted by X Braithwaite, our NJ Environmental Justice Organizer. This session uncovered the hidden health risks of toxic beauty products, especially their disproportionate impact on women of color. With expert speakers and actionable insights, the webinar explored the pressure of Eurocentric beauty standards, strategies for safer and more inclusive practices, and practical steps to demand change in the beauty industry. Watch the webinar here. Read more about our Clean Beauty Campaign here.
Cleaning Up the Air at NJ Ports & Warehouses
We are currently fighting legislation that would delay the state’s compliance with California’s clean-engine rules for medium and heavy-duty trucks. Bills (A967/S817) is focused on delaying the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations for two years even though the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been working hard since rule adoption back in 2021 to get ready. Under ACT, manufacturers are required to sell zero-emission trucks as an increasing percentage of their annual sale from 2025-2035. Join us and send a message NOW to your state legislators. Tell them to vote NO on A4967/S3817.
We are currently supporting Indirect Source Review (ISR) legislation (A-4679 / S-3546) which would curb pollution at warehouses, ports and other truck attracting facilities by requiring them to implement concrete emission reduction measures through an “indirect source review” program. If passed, the DEP would establish flexible compliance options alongside permitting requirements, with higher reduction thresholds for environmental justice communities that are disproportionately overburdened by port operations, trucking and multitude of other air pollution sources. Join us and send a message NOW to your state legislators to ADVANCE A4679/S3546 immediately!
Getting both bills to the finish line is incredibly important for the frontline communities and the environment. Not transitioning NJ’s goods movement to zero emission trucks and infrastructure will only exasperate the climate crisis and health of frontline communities and workers that are already suffering from being exposed to diesel pollution on a daily basis. To learn more about this campaign, contact Tolani Taylor and/or Kelli Koontz-Wilson.
Climate Superfund Victory!
On December 12th, Clean Water Action staff along with EmpowerNJ and 75 allied groups and leaders held a rally on the State House steps in support of the Climate Superfund Act (S3545). Senate Environment and Energy Chairman Bob Smith and John McKeon, both bill sponsors, joined us at the rally. The bill calls on big oil and gas polluters to pay for the climate crisis and related impacts that they caused at the local level. After hours of debate and testimony, the Climate Superfund Act passed the Committee by a 3-2 vote. Since that time, over 22 bill co-sponsors have been secured. S3545 is now moving to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee for its next hearing and vote then full Senate for a floor vote. Possibility of passage grew in NJ when Governor of New York signed a similar bill into law on December 26th. Want to learn more? Pass a local resolution in support of S3545 and get involved, contact Molly Cleary.
