The Township of Montclair is becoming a model of a sustainable community. This means that economic responsibility, environmental stewardship, and equitable social justice are taken into account for municipal operations, purchasing, and decision-making.
A sustainable society is one in which the needs of the present are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

The most serious environmental issues are global in nature, but the actions required to solve many problems take place on a local level. Hence the expression, “Think globally, act locally”.

Historically, we have preserved our beautiful green spaces, parks, public gardens and magnificent trees for more than a century.

In 1978 Montclair was the first municipality in the state to set-up a community recycling program, almost a decade before the 1988 Mandatory Recycling Act became law in New Jersey. Thanks to Montclair’s life-long resident and environmental activist Jean Clark, recycling programs spread throughout the state and New Jersey remains a national leader for curbside recycling collections and public participation.

Fourteen years ago Montclair was one of just three townships in all of northern NJ to create a Farmers' Market in our downtown business area, bringing fresh, healthy, locally-grown produce to residents while preserving family farms in the Garden State and shortening the distance from fields to tables. There are now over 40 such markets.

In 2002 the Montclair Environmental Commission (www.mtcenv.com) created The Sustainable Montclair Planning Guide. For this innovative “how-to” document and the subsequent Council Resolution of support they were awarded the 2003 Environmental Achievement Award by the Association of N.J. Environmental Commissions (ANJEC).

Overwhelmingly, the world's scientists, national governments, and business leaders agree that the rising accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is impacting the global climate. Scientists and urban planners anticipate that climate change will detrimentally affect cities and many suburban areas. Local governments, therefore, have to begin pro-actively working to avoid the long-term local risks of climate change.

Montclair has already taken steps to reduce our greenhouse gas footprint. Since 2002, six alternative fuel vehicles have been operated by Parking Enforcement officers and the Health Department. Running on compressed natural gas (CNG), these are Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (SULEVs) using domestic fuel. A $23,500 rebate from the NJ Board of Public Utilities’ (BPU) Clean Cities program helped fund the improvement.

In 2004 all municipal traffic lights were upgraded to light-emitting diodes (LEDs), saving 90% of the energy needed and saving us about $10,000 per year. We received an $8,800 rebate from the NJ BPU’s Clean Energy Program, so our investment will be paid back in just 2 1/2 years while our savings continue.

In 2005 a comprehensive energy audit was conducted on all municipal buildings to assess current energy usage and costs and to recommend energy efficiency and clean energy options for reducing the Township’s expenses and greenhouse gas emissions.

For these and other initiatives, Montclair was honored in 2005 to be the first-ever recipient of the Municipal Clean Energy Leadership Award from the NJ BPU’s Clean Energy Program.

We continue to look for and find ways to be more energy efficient and to reduce costs and energy use. For more information, please call Montclair’s Environmental Affairs office at (973) 509-5721.