Clean Communities

New Jersey Clean Communities is a statewide litter abatement program created by the passage of the Clean Communities Act. The program is managed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Treasury, and Clean Communities Council. It’s supported by local governments, businesses, community organizations, schools and individuals who work together to keep New Jersey clean.

New Jersey Clean Communities at the local level involves a three-fold attack on litter: cleanup, enforcement, and education. The first step in fighting litter is identifying it. 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.

There are seven sources of litter: pedestrians, motorists, overflowing household garbage, construction sites, and uncovered trucks. Litter is often blown by the wind until it is trapped somewhere, as along a fence. 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.

Hillsborough Township’s three-step approach includes:

1. Litter Pick up and Removal
2. Enforcement of Litter Abatement Ordinances
3. Public Education and Outreach

Why you should get involved?

• Litter and illegal dumping impacts human, animal and environmental health.
• Litter is unsightly. People who litter show a lack of pride in their community and in themselves.
• Litter is a health hazard. When litter is allowed to accumulate, it promotes a breeding place for disease-carrying insects and rodents.
• Litter is hazardous. Broken glass and other sharp objects littering our environment can cause injuries.
• Litter is a fire hazard. Flammable agents combined with lit cigarettes, tires and wood scraps can spontaneously combust.
• Litter impacts storm drains; obstructing drainage, waterways and is harmful to wildlife, fish and plant life.
• Litter is costly to taxpayers. Large amounts of money are spent each year in clean-up costs.
• Litter interferes with our enjoyment of public places in turn lowering our quality of living and negatively impacting Hillsborough Townships public image.

What can you do to make a difference?

• Community involvement is essential to curbing litter. We are looking for individuals, school groups, churches, or businesses willing to donate some time to continue to keep Hillsborough Township beautiful.
• Keep your own property litter-free
• Encourage officials to provide enough receptacles for pedestrian and motorist littler
• Get involved with the Hillsborough Township Clean Communities Program
• Help spread the anti-litter message
• Adopt-a-Spot or Adopt-a-Road It takes the entire community, including businesses, community organizations, schools and residents to get involved in programs and projects developed to reduce litter.

"Litter is everyone’s responsibility. Please join me in combating unsightly litter by volunteering for cleanups and helping educate others on the importance of not littering."

You too can be a #litterhero!!

In 2004 New Jersey Clean Communities partnered with Environmental Resources Planning, LLC  to conduct a visual litter survey as a way of studying the amounts and types of litter in the state.  Fourteen years later, the two organizations are conducting a follow-up study with similar methods and locations to see if littering habits have changed.  Hillsborough Township participated in the 2018 Visual Litter Survey on June 21, 2018. The study showed a 53% drop in litter along New Jersey streets and highways.  View the complete  report.

What seems like small amounts of litter around your neighborhood can add up to a big problem when it ends up in storm drains and causes pollutants to enter waterways.   Litter and trash clog storm drains which causes flooding, which can lead to damaging homes and businesses. Cigarette butts, paper, cans, bottles, plastic wrappers and bags, and more that litter the side of the road can travel down drainage ditches and wash into nearby rivers and streams, harming drinking water supplies and wildlife.  Help keep our water clean by properly disposing of trash before it becomes litter, keeping lids on garbage cans and recycling containers, picking up neighborhood trash and properly disposing of it and never putting anything in or near the storm drain or drainage ditch. Working together we can protect our environment and keep Boro Clean!

The Swedish fitness craze has reached Hillsborough Township.  “Plogging” which started in Europe is a combination of picking up litter while jogging.  Groups are starting to form and pop up around many cities and towns in the US. The app lifesum allows users to log and track their plogging activities, as well as other activities including nutrition trackers, health education and meal planning.  And, plogging burns about 22% more calories than running alone! If you would like to become a part of this growing trend to not only help the environment but improve your health, grab your running shoes, a trash bag and a pair of gloves and start your own plogging group.

Please protect our storm drains and waterways. We have been seeing a lot of pet waste litter around town. Please remember to dispose of your pet waste responsibly!!

Did you know that pet waste is a large contributor to Stormwater Pollution, which degrades our water quality? It is estimated that a single gram of dog waste can contain 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, which is known to cause cramps, diarrhea, intestinal illness, and serious kidney disorders in humans.

Please clean up after your pet responsibly! Dispose of pet waste in trash receptacles. Do not litter or toss into our Storm Drains!

Kaptain Cleanup reminds you to be a #litterhero and make a difference in your community!

2021 Events Registration

The 2021 Litter Cleanup Dates are:

Virtual Litter Cleanups Jan - Dec 2021.

Virtual Litter Awareness Day - Weekend of May 15th 

Earth Day Litter Cleanup - April 24th

Plogging Day - June 12th

National, World & Local Litter Cleanup - Sept 18th

LITTERCON - November 13th

REGISTRATION ON EVENTBRITE.COM

April 24, 2021 - Earth Day Litter Clean Up

The purpose of this event is to provide a litter cleanup event for Earth Day (April 22nd). We also ask that you make a personal pledge to do one thing that will impact the earth in a positive way! This could be as simple as, not using plastic, planting a tree or picking up 10 pieces of litter each week. The Earth is our home and it is one thing we all have in common! Let’s work together to make it a better place for future generations.

Thank you for your interest and in making a difference!!.

May 15, 2021 - Virtual Litter Awareness Cleanup Day

The purpose of this event is to provide litter education and awareness to the community and perform a litter cleanup. Outreach and education is a major goal of Clean Communities and we urge you to be informed, involved and committed to making a difference in your community. Virtually learn the ugly truth behind litter and create your own litter cleanup. Are you Ready??

Thank you for your interest and in making a difference!!

June 13, 2021 - Plogging Litter Cleanup Day.

The purpose of this event is to perform a litter cleanup the town in preparation for graduation and summer vacation, while promoting exercise and healthy living. Volunteers will form jogging/walking groups and stop to pick up litter along the way. Did you know this environmental fitness craze started in Sweden and that plogging burns about 22% more calories than running alone! Another way you can make a difference in your health and your community!!

Thank you for your interest and in making a difference!!

September 18, 2021 - World, National and Local Litter Cleanup Day

The purpose of this event is to perform a virtual litter cleanup and to encourage all of us to take local action to make the world and nation a better place to live. If not you, then who?? Let's clean up Hillsborough together!!

Help Hillsborough Township Clean Communities build a more sustainable planet by being a part of the solution to end litter and illegal dumping! We want YOU to join the movement and make a difference in your community. 

November 13, 2021 - Littercon

Littercon is a festive community event where people come together (socially distanced) to pick up litter in preparation for the Holidays.