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Clean Communities

Ewing is a participant in the New Jersey Clean Communities program.  New Jersey Clean Communities is a statewide, comprehensive, litter-abatement program created by the passage of the Clean Communities Act in 1986 (updated and ammended (Clean Communities Act – 2002 Amended 2008)).

The program is managed jointly by the Clean Communities Council, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of the Treasury.  It provides approximately $20 million in funding annually to local governments, businesses, community organizations, schools and individuals who work together to keep New Jersey clean.

The Council oversees the implementation of litter abatement programs in 558 New Jersey municipalities and 21 counties, collects statistical reports, maintains a data base of information that tracks local programs, and implements a statewide program of public information and education that targets Clean Communities coordinators, schools, and the general public. The Clean Communities Council also administers New Jersey’s Adopt-a-Beach and Adopt-a- Highway programs.

At the local level, New Jersey Clean Communities promotes a three-fold attack on litter: 

• Cleanup - hold at least one day of public lands cleanup by community volunteers
• Enforcement - the adoption and enforcement of anti-litter laws, and 
• Education - establish an education program within the community for adults and children.

In a multi-step process, it first identifies litter and its sources, and attempts to understand why people litter in order to be litter free. What is litter?  Litter is solid waste that’s out of place.  It’s the kind of trash found on highways, lakefronts, parks and school grounds. Litter takes many forms:  paper, plastics, metal cans, cigarette butts, glass, food packaging, tires and graffiti. 

Where does it come from? There are seven sources of litter:  pedestrians, motorists, overflowing household garbage, construction sites, dumpsters used by business, loading docks, and uncovered trucks.  Litter is often blown by the wind until it is trapped somewhere, as along a fence. 

Why do people litter? People tend to litter when they think someone else will clean up, when an area is already littered, and when they do not feel a sense of ownership or community pride.¹

1. https://www.njclean.org/2019webindex

Our Plan 

• Litter cleanup and removal 
• Enforcement of Ewing's litter ordinances
• Public education and outreach

Why Litter Control Is Important

Even small amounts of litter are unsightly, unhealthy and dangerous.  Litter causes blighted landscapes resulting in an increase in taxes and a decrease in tourism and industry; loss of civic pride and morale; and a negative public image.  Litter can also cause disease in people and animals, fires, and accidents, especially on roadways. Litter also impacts neighborhood storm drains, obstructing water flow, downstream waterways, and is harmful to wildlife and plant life.  It costs you money!  Public funds are spent on cleanups every year and unkempt towns and neighborhoods have lower property values.  

• We need YOU (individuals, church or school groups, businesses...) to help make a difference and help us curb litter in our community.  Please donate some time to  keep Ewing Township beautiful.
• First set a good example.  Keep your own property litter-free.
• Make a litter free community a priority!  Encourage officials to provide enough receptacles for pedestrian and motorist litter.
• Join the plogging movement and pick up litter as you walk or jog. 
• Curb your dog!
• Adopt a Stormdrain, Adopt a Road, Adopt a Park... Wherever you feel you can make a difference.  
• Cigarette butts are litter too!  In fact, they are the most littered item world wide. [Cigarette butt facts]
• Join us at our litter clean up days.  If you can't join us at our event, we encourage you to express solidarity with our efforts and join with your neighbors to clean up your neighborhood or development at your convenience.  Send us a photo  and let us know!  We'll share it.

Participate in a Virtual Cleanup through The Watershed Institute any time during the year.  Map your cleanups and put Ewing on the map!  Send us a photo of your cleanup and we'll share it!

The Solo Cleanup in town 2023 were performed by Donnan Morgan (at the Scudder Falls parking lot) and Sonya Travis (at the bowling alley on Scotch Road) in the spring of 2023.  

2024 COMMUNITY CLEANUPS

September 21, 2024, Delaware River Cleanup

A coalition of volunteer organizations and Clean Communities programs in Hunterdon and Mercer Counties, together with New Jersey and Pennsylvania State Parks, will come together for the 7^th Annual Delaware River Cleanup on Saturday morning, September 21st from 8:30 - 11:30 am at the Scudder Falls D&R Canal Parking Area.  

Pre-registration is required and you can register now on the Delaware River Greenway Partnership website Delaware River Greenway Partnership - 7th Annual Delaware River Cleanup. This will be limited to 15 volunteers.  All participants will need to register for the specific site and sign waivers prior to helping. 

Ewing Public works will be on site with a garbage truck and supplies needed to clean up. All volunteers will be provided with supplies necessary to complete this clean up gloves, pickers, bags, snacks, and event T-shirts.

April 13 Earth Day Stream Cleanup

Our annual Earth Day celebratory stream cleanup was held on Saturday, April 13th, 2024.  This event is run every year by Ewing Green Team, and The Watershed Institute.  This year we focused our cleanup on the West Branch of the Shabakunk Creek at the Hollowbrook Community Center.  

Our haul totaled 1855 pounds of trash, removed by 56 volunteers who braved the cold and drizzle. The most commonly found items included cardboard, glass bottles, and plastics. Special finds this year were air conditioner parts, a rusty bike, deer stand, lots of concrete (construction) waste, a mailbox, trash cans, a car bumper, bike crossing road sign, seed spreader, seat cushion, half of a ninja blender, a traffic cone, and chicken wire fence.

Ewing had the most pounds of trash collected for that first weekend of cleanups and we ranked 2^nd in the number of volunteers who braved the cold and rain.  

2023 COMMUNITY CLEANUPS

Earth Day - April 22nd Ewing Parks Spring Cleanup 

This actively used park hosts lots of team sports such as baseball and football, as well as out on the basketball courts and as such, needs regular love and attention.  With the help of approximately 30 community minded citizens, the Ewing Green Team conducted an Earth Day Spring Cleaning at Moody Park on Saturday morning, April 22nd.   We thank all of the volunteers who came out to help including numerous Green Team and Environmental Commission members, members of the community, and a slew of TCNJ students. A great job by all.

April 15 Earth Day Stream Cleanup

Our annual Earth Day celebratory stream cleanup was held on Saturday, April 15th, 2023.  This event is run every year by Ewing Green Team, and The Watershed Institute.  This year we focused our cleanup on the West Branch of the Shabakunk Creek at Home Depot on N. Olden Ave. The cleanup ran from 9 - 11 am.   Our final tally has it that 43 people participated and 4683 pounds of trash were collected.  A fantastic job by all!

TCNJ Student Spring Cleanup 

A large contingent of around 60 TCNJ student volunteers tackled two areas of the Township - the Hollowbrook area and Higgs Park in need of some TLC on Wednesday afternoon, April 5th. This cleanup was organized by Councilwoman Jennifer Keyes-Maloney wearing her second hat as TCNJ associate Vice President for Government & Community Relations and TCNJ Community Relations Director Raj Manimaran.  Thanks for a job well done!

2022 COMMUNITY CLEANUPS

April 24, 2022 Community Park Cleanup

Plan to celebrate Earth Day on Sunday, April 24th with a cleanup at Moody Park from 10am - noon.   Pre-registration is required.  For more information go to the Ewing Green Team's Earth Day Moody Park Cleanup Article.  Reward to all participants - Free Rita's Water Ice at the end of the cleanup!

Johnson and Johnson Staff Cleanup 

Held April 20th at Watson Park

April 9, 2022 Earth Day Stream Cleanup

Our annual Earth Day celebratory stream cleanup was held on Saturday, April 9th, 2022.  This event is run every year by Ewing Green Team, and The Watershed Institute.  This year's cleanup was at the Shabakunk Creek behind the Hollowbrook Community Center. Despite the rainy start to the event, almost 1800 pounds of trash was collected.  Go Ewing!  

2021 COMMUNITY CLEAN UPS

October 16, 2021 Delaware River Cleanup

A coalition of volunteer organizations and Clean Communities programs in Hunterdon and Mercer Counties, together with New Jersey and Pennsylvania State Parks, came together for the 4^th Annual Delaware River Cleanup on Saturday morning, October 16^th  for a massive cleanup of conditions and debris left after Hurricane Ida.  Four members of the Ewing Green Team represented Ewing at the Scudder Falls site, as well as other community members.  The fifteen total volunteers picked up 25 bags of trash with an estimated weight of appr. 1,000 lbs.  Finds included: lots of recyclables such as glass and plastic bottles, aluminum cans and cardboard; shoes and clothing; mini kegs and food wrappers; the ever-present cigarette butts; diapers (eww); fishing Items (line, hooks, lures); styrofoam; toys and a wood pallet (memorialized in the trees right).

June 26, 2021 Shabakunk Creek Park Adoption Event

The Glendale Civic Association is "Adopting a Park,"  the Shabakunk Creek Park, a little pocket park on Olden Avenue.  They held a native flower planting/beautification event on Saturday, June 26th beginning at 10 am.    

April 24, 2021 Earth Day Stream Cleanup 

In celebration of Earth Day, the Ewing Green Team, The Watershed Institute, and about 70 volunteers gathered along the Shabakunk Creek behind the Hollowbrook Community Center for our annual stream cleanup.  Pre-registration and COVID protocols were required.  Almost 900 pounds of trash were collected.

April 3, 2021 - Johnson Trolley Trail (JTT) Cleanup

An informal cleanup of a problem area reported by a local resident.  A small group of Green Team volunteers and local residents spent a morning making a difference on the historic Johnson Trolley Trail.  

March 20, 2021 - Spring Clean Up

First Day of Spring Clean Up at Moody Park.  Residents were encouraged to sign up for a 1 and a ½ hour slot between the hours of 10:30 am and 3 pm online to ensure proper social distance and health protocols at Moody Park.  Community members were notified upon sign-up as to their reporting location at the Park.  An inclement weather date was planned for Saturday, March 27, 2021. 
Thanks to local business, Rita's of Ewing for supplying the post-event treats!

2020 COMMUNITY CLEAN UPS

September 20, 2020 Trash Dash

On Sunday, September 20th, Ewingites took part in a TrashDash plogging event. This event was a part of a national all-day event run by Keep America Beautiful and coordinated by the Sustainable Ewing Green Team to get rid of litter and create a cleaner, greener, safer community for all.  In addition to commonly found litter, the 2020 TrashDash aimed at bringing awareness to the safety hazards of littered personal protective equipment (PPE), including used masks and gloves.