Litter Pollution In New Jersey

Stephen Spacek- the voice of litter in America just sent this updated information on New Jersey and Litter. Stephen is the Author of The American State Litter Scorecard.

I Just Gotta Tell Ya

• There are an estimated 500,000 dogs in New Jersey. An average dog produces one pound of waste per day.
• About half of the nutrients and herbicides/pesticides applied to lawns in the New Jersey coastal zone enter streams, bays, and the ocean.
• About half of New Jersey’s hard clam beds are closed because of high bacteria counts due to pointless pollution.
• In nine of ten New Jersey beach closures due to high fecal coliform bacteria, the cause is contaminated stormwater runoff. This runoff comes from streets, sidewalks, lawns and the rest of the land upstream of the coast and is carried to the ocean, unfiltered and unchecked, through storm drains.
• One gallon of oil dumped down a storm drain can create a slick up to eight acres, and may pollute up to one million gallons of drinking water.
• Worldwide, it is estimated that one trillion cigarette butts are littered every year.
• According to the Ocean Conservancy, the amount of nicotine trapped in 200 cigarette filters is enough to kill a human being.

Consequences: Ugly New Jersey City Litter!

• KILLS over 20 NJ residents statewide in litter/debris vehicle accidents annually!
• Breeds  harmful diseases, rodents,  insects
• Hurts  economic Development/tourism;  discourages corporate relocations; reduced job creations
• State and local police not enforcing litter laws /statutes—convicted violators NOT PUNISHED!
• Deliberately heavy litter/dumping by young males under age 25 and construction contractors
• EXTREMELY  POOR NJ Transportation  (Highway) maintenance activity  (compared to 49 other  states), as rated by  Reason Foundation
• NJ  Dept. of Environmental  Protection, Clean Communities  Council neglects citizens,  neighborhoods
• Adopt-a-Highway  programs in New Jersey  are ineffective–do not  work on most urban  streets
• Cities  in Hudson, Essex, Union,  Bergen, Somerset, Passaic,  Camden, Atlantic :   WORST OFFENDERS  within  Garden (of ugly trash!)  State

What  Else Contributes to Ugly City Litter in Jersey?

• NO  statewide Anti-litter Slogan  (most states have one)
• Deliberate littering is 55 percent of all NJ litter collected.
• Take  out food, beer, soft  drink cups packaging  dominates  urban NJ  litter
• Above-average Pedestrian,  Vehicle Traffic contributes  to High Littering
• NJ  lacks experienced State  Litter Program Manager/Staff

CULTURE OF INACTION by taxpaid ELECTED/NON-ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS leads to/results in:

• July   2009 corruption arrests  included three NJ mayors, two state assemblymen.
• Police agencies in Counties of Essex (Newark City) and Atlantic (Camden City) misused $500,000+ in Federal stimulus money to hire/retain officers, stated U.S. Department of Justice (USA Today).

Solutions: Take Action Now!!!

Write letter/call demanding litter removal action NOW to Counties and Townships!

HUDSON www.hudsoncountynj.org/ phone (201) 795-6100
Target Cities: Kearny, Bayonne, Jersey City, Newark, Hoboken, W. New York, North Bergen, Harrison, Weehauken.
BERGEN www.co.bergen.nj.us/ phone (201)336-7300
Target Cities: Fort Lee, Palisades Park
ESSEX www.essex-countynj.org phone 973-621-4400 973-621-4432
Target Cities: Newark, Irvington,The Oranges, Belleville, Nutley
UNION www.unioncountynj.org phone (908) 527-4000
Target Cities: Elizabeth, Union, Hillside, Roselle, Linden, Rahway, Plainfield, Westfield
SOMERSET www.co.somerset.nj.us phone (908) 231-7040
Target Cities: Woodbridge, Edison, Perth Amboy, Piscataway, Metuchen
PASSAIC www.passaiccountynj.org phone (973) 881-4000
Target Cities: Paterson
CAMDEN www.camdencounty.com/ phone (856) 225-5354
Target Cities: Camden, Pennsauken, Gloucester City
ATLANTIC www.aclink.org/ phone (609)343-2201)
Target Cities: Atlantic City, Pleasantville
–Contact

Governor Jon Stevens  Corzine http://www.state.nj.us/governor/about/contact/ phone 609-292-6000
Candidate Christopher Christie http://www.christiefornj.com/ phone 862-579-3181
Christopher Daggett http://daggettforgovernor.com/wordpress/contact-us/ phone 732-752-2323

TALKING POINTS (What to say):

• Current 1986 NJ Clean Communities Act: a total fiasco—public servants have miserably failed. You want them to obey the law and the tax dollars paid–action now to clean up your area! Strengthen law at next year’s statehouse session at Trenton.
• Littering/dumping annually kills over 20 NJ residents statewide in vehicle accidents
• City Streets needs waste cans!
• State needs statewide anti-litter slogan (most states already have)
• State, local police not enforcing clean comnuities Act and local anti-litter laws— convicted violators not paying fines.
• State needs litter reporting hot line
• Improve Highway maintenance activity, compared to New York state, Connecticut and 47 other US states
• NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection and Clean Communities Council needs new personnel!
• Need statewide beverage deposits legislation and litter source taxation
• STOP UGLY, DEADLY LITTERING IN NEW JERSEY NOW!!!