Beyond Budget Cuts: Rethinking Community Composting

Jersey City's decision to discontinue its municipal composting program reflects the difficult choices cities face as they balance budgets and maintain essential services. While the loss of the program is disappointing, it also presents an opportunity to rethink how sustainability JC initiatives are delivered and possibly even expanded.

Community Composting does more than divert food waste from landfills. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions, creates valuable soil amendments, supports urban gardens, and gives residents a practical way to reduce their environmental footprint. The question is not whether composting matters, but how communities can sustain these programs when municipal resources are limited.

The City of Jersey City could consider partnering with neighborhood associations, nonprofit organizations, community gardens, and "Friends of Parks" groups to deliver environmental programs through public-private collaboration. Rather than relying exclusively on municipal operations and expensive contracted commercial services, the City can consider providing grants, technical assistance, and shared resources to community partners who could manage various neighborhood-scale initiatives.

For Jersey City, this model could extend beyond composting to include tree stewardship, park maintenance, and custodial care for rain gardens, pollinator habitats, and other community-led sustainability projects. By investing in local organizations and volunteers, the City can expand community ownership while stretching limited public dollars.

Budget constraints often force difficult decisions, but they can also inspire innovation. Sustainable Jersey City looks forward to working with residents, neighborhood organizations, community business partners and City Leaders to explore new models that keep sustainability in our city moving forward, even in challenging times.

Please consider taking our community poll as we collect your ideas on Neighborhood Scale Initiatives - Click here !

Dorothy Hoffman is one of SJC Core Team Leads and is responsible for pulling together our the SJC Download monthly newsletter each month, thank you Dorothy !!

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How to Make Your Wardrobe Plastic Free Beyond July 👍

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: On August 27, 2026 Mikie Sherrill expanded an existing ban on PFAS to include apparel. While the original bill was signed in January this new bill extends the protections and means that New Jersey is the third state to provide an extended ban for PFAS following California and New York. 

PFAS were originally added to household items like cookware since the 1940’s because of their ability to repel water, grease and other items.  These same properties forever chemicals were also useful at repelling stains which led them to be added to clothing production lines in the 1950s. In clothing these chemicals can repel rainwater, soil, or grease stains. 

This durability is what makes these chemicals so hard to break down and led to them being dubbed “Forever Chemicals”. PFAS are also known as “forever chemicals” because they can stay in the environment and human body for decades. Ongoing research has shown that PFAS can cause increased risk of cancer, developmental impacts, and even fertility issues. 

What You Can Do Now

The law doesn't take full effect until 2028, which means there's a real gap between now and then. A few practical steps in the meantime:

• Check labels on cookware, especially anything marketed as "nonstick" — look for PFOA / PFAS-free claims, though be aware that labeling requirements are still catching up.

• Be cautious with stain- and water-resistant products, from carpets to raincoats to "stain guard" furniture treatments, until the ban takes effect.

• Support local and state efforts to monitor drinking water quality — Jersey City's water comes primarily from surface reservoirs, and PFAS monitoring data is publicly available through the New Jersey DEP.

• Stay engaged as the DEP rolls out its promised education campaign — Sustainable JC will keep tracking updates and will share resources as they become available.

New Jersey is now among a growing number of states pushing PFAS out of the products we use every day. It's a slow moving but significant shift, and one that puts our state ahead of most of the country on this issue.

Enjoy these Sustainable Fashion Tips - there is an opportunity to do things differently !!

This past month was Plastic Free July, a month dedicated to bringing about a world without plastic waste and we want to keep the conversation going !

The July awareness month is often associated with reusable water bottles, cloth shopping bags, and saying no to single-use plastics. But one of the biggest sources of plastic pollution is hiding in plain sight—our closets.

Polyester, Nylon, Acrylic, and Spandex are some of the most common materials used to make our everyday clothes and all derived from petroleum.  Every time they are washed they release tiny microplastics into the water.

1. Check the Clothing Label

Fast fashion encourages us to constantly buy new clothes at low prices, but many of these garments are made from synthetic fabrics that wear out quickly and contribute to plastic waste.

Instead of chasing every trend, invest in timeless, well-made pieces you'll wear for years. Before making a purchase, ask yourself: Will I still be wearing this next year? Buying fewer, higher-quality items saves money in the long run and keeps clothing out of landfills.

2. Choose Natural Fibers When Possible

When shopping for new clothes, check the label. Whenever you can, opt for natural fibers such as cotton, linen, hemp, or wool instead of synthetic materials.

Natural fibers generally biodegrade more easily than plastic-based fabrics and don't shed the same type of persistent microplastics during washing. While no fabric is completely impact-free, choosing natural materials is one way to reduce your plastic footprint.

3. Don't Be Fooled by Greenwashing

Many clothing companies now advertise "eco-friendly" collections, but not all sustainability claims tell the full story.

Look beyond buzzwords like "green" or "conscious." Check whether brands are transparent about the materials they use, how their clothing is produced, and whether they have credible certifications such as GOTS or OEKO-TEX®. Taking a few extra minutes to research a brand can help you make more informed choices.    The website Good On You has a directory of different clothing brands, materials that are used in production, and their supply chain .

AND FINALLY,

If you are truly inspired to take a deep dive, READ THIS TERRIFIC ARTICLE by The Guardian, but please note … we have written to them to correct an item they referenced in their article which is that Bakelite is NOT a plant-based plastic, and traditional versions of this material are not sustainable. It is a synthetic polymers primarily derived from fossil fuels (petrochemicals) **

• Quick AI search on Bakelite below …

  • Environmental Realities

    • Fossil Fuel Dependence: Standard production relies heavily on coal, natural gas, and crude oil extraction. [1]

      • Lack of Biodegradability: These polymers do not naturally break down; they persist in the environment for centuries and fragment into hazardous microplastics. [1, 2, 3, 4]

      • High Toxicity: Materials like PVC release toxic chlorine-based compounds during manufacturing and disposal, while Teflon contains persistent "forever chemicals" (PFAS). [1, 2, 3, 4]

      • Non-Circular Disposal: Bakelite is a thermosetting plastic that cannot be melted or reshaped, making it exceptionally difficult to recycle. [1, 2, 3]

Suhas Vittal is a Core Team Member for Sustainable JC. He was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ, and is a graduate of NJCU, where he received his BA in Marketing & Public Relations. He is passionate about educating and encouraging others to care about the environment and to make sustainable lifestyle choices. 

From Research to Action: Tishman Center Staff Stand With Jersey City Residents in Fighting Cumulative Impacts

Jersey City Officials and community members at the Van Keuren Public Hearing, April 28, 2026.

REPRINTED FROM Tishman Center May 20, 2026 - https://www.tishmancenter.org/blog/vankeurenhearing

On Tuesday evening, April 28, the Tishman Center stood with Jersey City, NJ residents demanding the full enforcement of the state’s Environmental Justice Law. Some 100 people were gathered in person and 100 online at a hearing hosted by Van Keuren LLC to comment on its proposal to construct a new large-scale solid waste transfer station and material recovery facility. The facility would funnel regional waste to Jersey City, bringing diesel traffic and pollution directly to a community already suffering from environmental burdens.

Those in attendance included residents, representatives of neighborhood associations, local representatives from city and county levels, and all three state lawmakers representing Jersey City,  as well as organizations like the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, Earthjustice, Eastern Environmental Law Center, and Sustainable Jersey City. Numerous attendees, both in-person and via Zoom, spoke about the profound impacts of the proposed facility, sharing concerns about the associated noise, sight, smell, pollution, and truck traffic, and detailing what truly matters to this community and the surrounding area. Of the dozens of people who gave public comment that evening, not a single speaker expressed support for the project. 

If permitted, the facility would process 750 tons of waste per day and generate over 260 round-trip truck trips per day, adding diesel emissions, noise, and traffic to a community already recognized as overburdened. The associated impacts of diesel emissions would include PM2.5 and NOx pollution, which is a precursor to ozone and an existing stressor for the community. Diesel emissions are also associated with numerous negative health impacts, including asthma and cardiovascular risk, and can worsen existing conditions, including heart and lung disease. The U.S. EPA reports that “these conditions can result in increased numbers of emergency room visits, hospital admissions, absences from work and school, and premature death.” 

The facility argued that they would serve a compelling public interest by integrating themselves as part of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) Solid Waste Management Plan, as well as offering municipalities and entities in the surrounding counties (Bergen, Essex, and Hudson) an opportunity to divert their waste to the Van Keuren site. However, it should be noted that the “compelling public interest” provision of the EJ Law is specific to benefits felt by the OBC, which hosts the facility, and that there are already existing waste facilities in the surrounding area, which could take on excess waste Van Keuren claims they would support. 

As Sustainable Jersey City Founder and Chair, Debra Italiano said, 

“We do not need another waste transfer/materials recovery facility in Jersey City. That industrial zoned footprint of Van Keuren is a mega impediment to the planned Greenway Connectivity Corridors Vision. The Van Keuren Redevelopment Plan should be reversed, and the area should be rezoned with a new plan to integrate Jersey City green corridors connectivity plan and additionally provide for more affordable housing, which the city needs. Furthermore, there needs to be an intervention point which mandates that the NJSEA be more accountable to Jersey City and Hudson County, without superseding Zoning and Land Use Authority.”

Debra Italiano, Founder and Chair of Sustainable Jersey City, speaking on her concerns with the Van Keuren proposal, impacts on Jersey City Greenways Development, and their connection to the NSJEA.

New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance Director of Policy, Brooke Helmick, spoke on the audacity of the Van Keuren proposal and disputed the facility’s claim that they would fulfill an essential need in the area: 

“Over and over again, representatives of the Van Keuren facility have stressed the minimal impact of pollution in the community. Not only is it egregious to presume that a community should be forced to accept even “minimal” pollution in their community, but 260 truck trips and the associated diesel emissions have immense negative health impacts on residents when compounded with the existing diesel pollution that the community already must contend with. Furthermore, Van Keuren has not demonstrated - with any sort of sincerity - that they provide service or fill a compelling need for the local overburdened community in Jersey City. The community has been clear: this permit proposal must be denied.”  

Partners from New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, Earthjustice, Eastern Environmental Law Center, and Sustainable Jersey City at the Van Keuren Public Hearing, April 28, 2026.

New Jersey’s Environmental Justice Law is one of the strongest environmental and public health policies in the country. The law addresses the problem of cumulative impacts–the combined burden of multiple pollution sources, environmental stressors, and social stressors over time–in low-income communities and communities of color. The problem is a legacy of historic and ongoing environmental racism, and a consequence of regulations that typically analyze sources of pollution or specific pollutants one by one. Passed in 2020, NJ’s landmark law requires the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to consider what burdens communities are already facing, and, more importantly, requires NJDEP to deny permits for new sources of pollution in already overburdened communities. Put simply, the law–and similar state policies it has inspired– is meant to stop adding harm to communities already facing too much.

Van Keuren’s request was the first for a new permit under the EJ Law – resulting in the first test of the law’s permit denial power. As Patricia Cortado, Program and Communications Associate at the Tishman Center, and a resident of the Ironbound neighborhood in Newark, NJ, made clear in her comments to the crowd:

“On my block alone, we are already living with the consequences of environmental decisions made over decades… These are not data points. These are families I know and see every day.”

Neighborhoods like the Ironbound, home to three existing fossil fuel power plants, New Jersey’s largest garbage incinerator, and numerous polluting facilities, across the bridge from where the Van Keuren facility is being proposed, show what cumulative impacts look like in practice. One in 4 children has asthma. Other health issues related to ongoing pollution exposure include cardiovascular issues, diabetes, cancer, reproductive issues, and more.

As Cortado described, the impacts are physical but do not stop there: “It is the anxiety of not knowing what exposure is doing to your body. It is the normalization of illness as part of everyday life. It is the loss of safety, dignity, the ability to feel well in our own neighborhood.”

In a presentation that lasted for nearly an hour before the public was given the opportunity to speak, the company’s representative openly acknowledged that the proposed facility would add burden to an already overburdened community and, under normal circumstances, would be denied. However, the company claimed the project qualified as a “compelling public interest” under the NJ law, a limited exception that would allow NJDEP to consider approving a permit for a new source of pollution despite its impacts.Anna Yulsman, Research Analyst at the Tishman Center, along with many other commenters, contested Van Keuren’s claim: 

“Under the EJ Law, the permit can be approved only if the applicant demonstrates that the facility primarily serves the essential [health or safety] needs of the overburdened community, that it is necessary, and that no reasonable alternatives exist. The applicant does not meet that standard.”

Yukyan Lam, Research Director and Senior Scientist at the Tishman Center, added:

“Here, Van Keuren points to a few reasons as to why they meet a compelling public interest, none of which are valid. It points to offering municipalities market choice in waste and recycling, helping the state meet recycling goals. It points to offering jobs, something like 14 staff positions, to the overburdened community, Jersey City, or “nearby areas.” It points to servicing waste from hypothetical housing to be constructed in 14 municipalities. None of these speaks to a compelling public interest in the form of an essential, environmental, health, or safety need. The alleged benefits are not even specific to the OBC. This is a proposed facility operating at a regional scale –servicing three counties (Essex, Hudson, and Bergen Counties); it does not primarily serve those living in this specific OBC. It would be dealing with regional waste in the backyards of the homes of the folks you heard from tonight.”

The stakes extend beyond this single decision.

Dr. Nicky Sheats of the John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research at Kean University, at the Van Keuren Public Hearing, April 28, 2026.

Dr. Nicky Sheats of New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance and Princeton University  warned in his comment that approving this permit would not only be bad for Jersey City, but it could also set a bad precedent for overburdened communities across New Jersey.

While this decision should be fairly straightforward for NJDEP, it will be a landmark one. It will either affirm the promise and intent of the nation’s first law requiring permit denials based on cumulative impacts, or it will signal that even a narrowly tailored exception can be stretched into a loophole that allows unjust siting to continue.

Links to:
Sustainable Jersey City: https://www.sustainablejc.org/

New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance: https://njeja.org/

Tishman Center Cumulative Impacts Hub: https://www.tishmancenter.org/cumulativeimpacts

What You Need To Know About The Proposed Van Keuren Waste Facility !!

Van Keuran LLC. is planning to build a TS / MRF (Trash Station/Material Recovery Facility) around St.Paul's and Tonnelle Avenue. While this sounds like another run-of-the-mill environmentally friendly trash sorting “Community Benefits Project”, it’s actually very harmful to the residents, commuters, and the environment.The proposed location of the facility sits within a mile of several School, Church, Senior Housing, Park and Childcare facilities and is being built in an already overburdened community. The public hearing for the (TS / MRF) is currently scheduled for April 28, 2026 at 6:00 PM and we want to inform the community at-large that this is NOT OK and ask for your support in turning out for the Public Hearing, either in-person or via Zoom, even if you do not live in Ward C or Ward D. This proposed facility will have negative environmental impacts that will reach across the entire city of Jersey City, e.g., air quality !

Here’s What You Need To Know

What is a Transfer Station (TS) and Material Recovery Facility (MRF)?

A Transfer Station is where garbage trucks dump their loads before the waste is hauled away to its final destination. A Material Recovery Facility sorts recyclables. Together, they mean a constant, heavy stream of large commercial trucks — diesel-burning, noise-producing, road-damaging trucks rolling through our streets every single day. AND this facility is not just managing Jersey City Material Wastes - it is a REGIONAL FACILITY !

The Traffic Problem Is Real

Van Keuran Avenue and the surrounding streets were not designed to absorb industrial truck traffic at this scale. Our neighborhood already deals with congestion from Routes 1 & 9 and the Turnpike corridor. Adding a waste facility to this mix means more idling trucks, longer commutes for residents, dangerous conditions for pedestrians and cyclists, and accelerated wear on local roads that the city will then have to repair.

This is what happens every time a facility like this opens in an urban neighborhood. The trucks don't use highways exclusively. They use our streets.

[NOTE: Jersey City already has 2 other IWS owned Transfer Facilities for Solid & Hazardous Waste (Regional) on the Westside of Jersey - we do not need another.]

Environmental Justice Is the Real Issue

Under New Jersey's landmark Environmental Justice Law,  the community by Van Keuren community qualifies as an overburdened community. Under NJ's Environmental Justice Law, an overburdened community is one where at least 35% of households qualify as low-income, at least 40% of residents identify as minority, or at least 40% of households have limited English proficiency.  The law exists precisely because communities like ours have historically been chosen as dumping grounds for the infrastructure nobody else wants. New Jersey's Environmental Justice Law addresses environmental permits issued in overburdened communities and how the state intends to protect vulnerable residents from bearing a disproportionate share of adverse environmental and public health consequences. 

Distinguished Transfer Stations and MRFs are explicitly named as Community Environmental Stressors under this law. The law defines environmental and public health stressors to include concentrated areas of air pollution, mobile sources of air pollution, contaminated sites, transfer stations and other solid waste facilities, recycling facilities, scrap yards, and point-sources of water pollution, as well as conditions that may cause public health impacts such as asthma, cancer, elevated blood lead levels, cardiovascular disease, and developmental problems.  Our neighborhood already has its share of these stressors – adding another one will only pile on these issues.

What the Law Allows — And What You Can Do

Here's the powerful part: Under its pioneering Environmental Legislation, New Jersey is the first state in the nation required to issue permit denials for new facilities that cannot avoid disproportionate impacts on overburdened communities or serve a compelling public interest. That means this permit can be denied. But the NJDEP has to hear from us first !

At the April 28th Public Hearing, the permit applicant - Van Keuren LLC - must provide clear and complete information about the proposed facility and the potential environmental and public health stressors associated with it. The applicant must accept written and oral comments from any interested party, provide a meaningful opportunity for public participation, and subsequently respond to every comment / question presented either in-person or in writing, . Following the hearing, NJDEP must consider the testimony presented and any oral and written comments received and documented before making a permit decision.

Sustainable Jersey City has retained the Eastern Environmental Law Center to assist us and Jersey City in pushing back on this very bad idea - here are their insights and helpful talking points to further educate the public.

• Please not there will be a Community Education Meeting via Zoom closer to the date of the Public Hearing hosted by Councilman Jake and Councilman Tom Zuppa - date tbd so stay tuned👍

That means April 28th at 6pm is your moment. Come to the hearing as body count matters - we need to fill the room ! Speak on the record. Bring your neighbors. Bring your concerns. Every comment becomes part of the official record that NJDEP must weigh.

If you can not attend in-person please plan to attend via Zoom - instructions will be sent in response to email requests sent to publichearing@complianceplusservices.com or or Click “Attend Meeting Virtually” via Van Keuren’s website here https://www.complianceplusservices.com/Van-Keuren.  [If you encounter any issues write to Suhas.Vittal@SustainableJC.org]

Written comments should be sent to: Van Keuren, LLC., c/o Compliance Plus Services, 240 Gibraltar Road, Ste. 100, Horsham, PA 19044.

• The  Public Comment Period is from March 27, 2026 through May 28, 2026. The  Public Hearing Date is on April 28, 2026 from 6PM to 8PM - in person @ The Hall (Moose Hall) on the West Side, 60 West Side Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07305 . 

• Van Keuren LLC Public Notice - English Version

• Van Keuren LLC Public Notice - Spanish Version

Jersey City is only as strong as our weakest link - please participate in this process to push back on this proposed facility in this overburdened neighbhorhood on our West Side, to deny Van Keuren LLC an operating permit here in JC, EVEN IF YOU DON’T LIVE IN WARD C OR IN WARD D. We do not want them here.

Suhas Vittal is a Core Team Member for Sustainable JC. He was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ, and is a graduate of NJCU, where he received his BA in Marketing & Public Relations. He is passionate about educating and encouraging others to care about the environment and to make sustainable lifestyle choices. 

Run for the Love of Our Hearts: Why the 2026 JC Valentine’s Half Marathon Matters

February is National Heart Health Month and in Jersey City, heart health is deeply connected to the places we live, move, and breathe in.

Heart disease remains a leading cause of death in Jersey City and Hudson County, with roughly one in five local deaths linked to cardiovascular disease. These impacts are not felt evenly. Neighborhoods with higher exposure to traffic and air pollution, fewer trees and green spaces, and limited access to safe places to exercise and shelter from extreme heat, are more at risk.  These more vulnerable populations experience increased rates of high blood pressure, heart disease, and preventable hospitalizations.

Environmental conditions play a powerful role in heart health. Short-term exposure to poor air quality can raise blood pressure and trigger heart attacks or irregular heart rhythms. Long-term exposure increases the risk of chronic cardiovascular disease and stroke. Heat waves further strain the heart, especially in environmental justice communities, where escape from extreme weather conditions are often more limited or non-existent

That’s why Sustainable Jersey City is proud to partner with CityTri to host our 3rd Annual JC Valentine’s Half Marathon | 10K |  5K, returning on Sunday morning February 8th to Lincoln Park. More than a race, this event brings people together to move their bodies, build community, and raise critical funds to support local work at the intersection of heart health, air quality, and environmental justice.

Movement is one of the most effective ways to protect heart health. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week, yet only about one in five adults and teens meet that goal. Events like the JC Valentine’s Run create joyful, inclusive opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to get moving while reinforcing that healthy choices are easier when communities are designed to support them.

Proceeds from the race directly support Sustainable Jersey City’s efforts to:

• Raise awareness about air quality and cardiovascular health

• Expand access to neighborhood-level air quality information

• Advance environmental and public health solutions in communities most impacted by pollution and heat

Whether you’re running, walking, volunteering, or cheering from the sidelines, every mile helps build a healthier, more resilient Jersey City.

Thank You to Our Sponsors & Community Partners

The JC Valentine’s Day Half Marathon is made possible through the generous support of local sponsors and community partners who share a commitment to heart health, sustainability, and a healthier Jersey City.

We are proud to recognize Impact3P and NJCU as our Bronze Sponsors and Hartz Mountain and the Coalition for Food & Healthy Equity as our Green Sponsors. Their support helps power this event during National Heart Health Month and directly advances Sustainable Jersey City’s work at the intersection of environmental health, air quality, and community well-being.

We also extend our sincere thanks to our community partners, whose outreach, advocacy, and grassroots engagement help bring this event to life ✨  A warm salute to you all - Jane DO, Lavish, Chaconia Candles, The View, Healthier JC, Bike JC, Hudson TMA, Fleet Feet, Jersey City Times, Deliverance Children’s Ministry / Rose Avenue Urban Farm, Hudson County Chamber of Commerce and JCFamilies !

Together, these partners help amplify the message that movement, clean air, and healthy neighborhoods are essential to heart health.

There’s still time to get involved. Sponsorship opportunities remain available for organizations and businesses looking to support cardiovascular health, environmental justice, and sustainability in Jersey City.

To learn more about our JC Valentine’s Run, fundraiser and awareness campaign visit our event page - Sponsorship and Volunteer Opportunities, Race Registration & Brunch Reservations, and Donation information👍

Dorothy Hoffman is one of SJC’s Core Team Leads using her talents to advance our newsletter program and our policy agenda. Her passion around community and civic engagement has added energy to our growing organization, which we truly appreciate. Dorothy works as a Public Policy professional and has most recently served as a Board Member & Elections Chair of HPNA. She also has a storied past in coalition building and leading impactful community initiatives in the other cities she has lived in prior to moving to Jersey City.