New Jersey: “ Official” Web Site America’s UGLY Urban/City Litter (Trash) State Steve Spacek “ American State Litter Scorecard” Special Thanks: Steven R. Stein “ 2004 New Jersey Litter Survey ” Principal, Environmental Resources Planning, LLC Copyright 2009 Steve Spacek

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

* 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).

*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!!!