Sustainable Jersey is a certification program for municipalities in New Jersey that want to go green, save money, and take steps to sustain their quality of life over the long term. It is the most successful statewide municipal sustainability certification program in the country. Over 6,700 people in New Jersey have participated in statewide training and outreach events in 2010. The program has distributed over half a million dollars to New Jersey communities to support an estimated 1,500 actions taken "on the ground" to make communities more livable, environmentally friendly and prosperous. Over 300 of New Jersey’s towns and cities (56%-or 315 towns across all 21 counties) have registered to become Sustainable Jersey certified. By supporting community efforts to reduce waste, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and improve environmental equity, Sustainable Jersey is empowering New Jersey towns to build a better world for future generations.

Sustainable Jersey is a collaborative effort between the New Jersey State League of Municipalities’ Mayors’ Committee for a Green Future and the Municipal Land Use Center at The College of New Jersey, in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. The policies and other substantive contents of the program are developed though a transparent participatory process involving NGOs, academics, government, and the business community. Program sponsors include the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, PSEG Foundation, New Jersey Natural Gas, Church and Dwight, Covanta Energy, Elizabethtown Gas, United Water, Verizon, Atlantic City Electric and CDS-Xerox. www.sustainablejersey.com

Woodcliff Lake’s Green Initiative
Woodcliff Lake unveiled newly installed Bike Racks in 2011 located at Borough Hall and the Train Station. The newly installed Bike Racks provide daily commuters with a healthy and fun option to commuting!

In these times of high gas prices, a warming climate, increasing traffic congestion, and expanding waistlines, increasing bicycling and walking are goals that are clearly in the public interest. According to the Bicycling and Walking in the U.S.: 2010 Benchmarking Report  “where bicycling and walking levels are higher, obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes levels are lower. Higher levels of bicycling and walking also coincide with increased bicycle and pedestrian safety and higher levels of physical activity”. Increasing bicycling and walking can help solve many of the largest problems facing our nation. As this report indicates, many states and cities are making progress toward promoting safe access for bicyclists and pedestrians, but much more remains to be done.

Recreational biking can be a fun, affordable family activity that is appropriate for every family. You don’t need to spend a lot of money; a simple bike ride to the park or bike ride in your neighborhood can be a fabulous way for the family to spend some quality time together.

Recycled Waste Vegetable Oil Pilot Project
This is a recycling project. We are utilizing a waste product, Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO) that has been used for cooking and is ready for disposal. Rather than adding it to the landfill or having it enter the sewer system, Woodcliff Lake will process the WVO through filtration equipment and use it to power diesel engines in our Borough fleet. The pilot project is currently underway and the “blended fuel” is being used in all of our garbage trucks. Look for the WCL trucks that are labeled “This Truck Runs On Waste Vegetable Oil”. Through this recycling initiative, the Borough is saving 50% of its diesel costs and is removing carbon particulates from the air we breathe.

Purchase of Energy
The Borough recently authorized joining the new Bergen County Coop on Purchase of Energy.

The Bergen County Pricing System (BCPS) is a buying group for electricity generation and natural gas supply services available to all local government units within the Bergen County jurisdiction.

The initial analysis projected for WCL is a $41,000.00 dollars savings over our current purchasing agreement.

Conservation of Water
The Borough is has authorized studying the benefits of a sanitary sewer excess user charge system to reduce excess water useage.

Salt Brine Initiative for 2012
The Borough is planning on initiating a program to use salt brine this winter. The use of salt brine will delay freezing precipitation from adhering to roads for a couple hours during a winter weather event and/or when temperatures and humidity can cause frost to form on bridges, hills and other potentially problematic roadways. The brine is applied prior to the potential of freezing conditions.

Using salt brine can provide our staff with additional time to respond to freezing precipitation.  In addition, the application of salt brine may reduce the need to call in employees on an overtime basis to treat bridges and overpasses that have a tendency to freeze or when small snow showers pass through the area overnight and leave a dusting on the roadways.

To join the Green Team please contact Borough Administrator Wolfgang Albrecht at 201-391-4944 ext. 216 or by email at walbrecht@wclnj.com

WHEREAS, the Borough of Woodcliff Lake strives to save tax dollars, assure clean air and water, improve working and living environments to build a community that is sustainable economically, environmentally and socially; a community which would thrive well into the new century; and

WHEREAS, the Borough of Woodcliff Lake wishes to build a model of government which benefits our residents now and far into the future with green community initiatives which are easy to replicate and affordable to implement; and

WHEREAS, in an attempt to focus attention on ―Green Issues, the Mayor and Council wishes to establish a Green Team Advisory Committee (GTA); and

WHEREAS, the Borough of Woodcliff Lake wants to begin the process of focusing on Green Issues; and

WHEREAS, the Borough of Woodcliff Lake will begin the process of making its operations greener, and more environmentally friendly beginning with purchasing, where appropriate,  green and sustainable products and conducting energy audits of the Borough’s facilities and operations to pinpoint the most effective ways to reduce energy and fuel consumption; and

WHEREAS, solar power, changes to fleet purchasing and maintenance, water quality improvements, and operational changes and improvements will all be considered as the Borough moves to do their share to lessen the environmental impact of its operations.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Borough of Woodcliff Lake that we do hereby establish a Green Team Advisory Committee consisting of members who shall be residents or employees of Woodcliff Lake, appointed annually, but whose initial term of appointment shall be through December 31, 2012.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Woodcliff Lake that the Mission, Goals and Objectives for the GTA through December 31, 2012 are established as follows