Clean Communities
About
The Clean Communities Program is a statewide initiative dedicated to promoting environmental care and maintaining the beauty of our shared spaces. The key focus of Clean Communities is education about litter control, with the ultimate goal of eliminating litter from Morristown.
Here in Morristown, the program provides educational opportunities for schools, civic organizations, and the business community to raise awareness and inspire action. Clean Communities works in close partnership with Public Works and Property Maintenance to encourage public compliance with Town Code.
The program also organizes two major annual cleanup events, bringing the community together to beautify our town. Funded by the Town of Morristown and an entitlement program from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Clean Communities is committed to fostering a cleaner, greener environment for everyone.
Join us in making Morristown a litter-free community!
Adopt-a-Spot Program
Welcome to Morristown's Adopt-A-Spot Program! This initiative offers community members, local businesses, and organizations the opportunity to help keep our town beautiful and thriving. By adopting a public area such as a park, street, or garden, you’ll play a vital role in maintaining a clean and welcoming environment for everyone to enjoy.
Participants commit to regular cleanups, light landscaping, or beautification efforts, and in return, we recognize your contributions with signage at your adopted spot and on our website and social media platforms.
Join us in fostering community pride and making a difference—one spot at a time! For more information or to get involved, contact Caitlin Posthumus at 973-292-6626, c-posthumus@townofmorristown.org.
Let’s work together to keep Morristown beautiful!
Tackling the Litter Problem
What is litter? Litter is solid waste that is 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 litter come from? There are at least seven sources of litter: pedestrians, motorists, overflowing household garbage, overflowing commercial containers, loading docks, construction sites and uncovered trucks. Litter is often blown by the wind until it is trapped somewhere or goes down a storm drain.
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.
Why is litter a problem? 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 accidents, especially on roadways, fires and disease in people and animals.
How are we solving the problem? In addition to the efforts of local governments, residents, schools, civic associations and non-profit organizations are enlisted as volunteers to help with cleanup events. At these cleanup events we offer education to volunteers while they pick up litter, so they become environmental stewards. With education, acts of littering can be changed!
REPORT ILLEGAL DUMPING
The Problem:
"Public lands all over New Jersey are being used as dumping grounds. Litter, garbage bags, tires, televisions, electronic waste, appliances, yard waste, and construction debris are being dumped and threatening our local environment, animals and public. This dumping detracts from the natural beauty of our public lands; it decreases property value, and costs the citizens of New Jersey tax dollars to cleanup."
-NJDEP
"There's an app for that!"
The NJDEP offers a free and easy to use app that can be downloaded onto your smartphone device. Click on the link below and start reporting illegal dumping sites in New Jersey.
https://www.stopdumping.nj.gov/instructions.htm
A Litter Management/Prevention Plan is required for any Special Events within the Town of Morristown. Please submit application to the Department of Public Works, Clean Communities Program no less than 14 days prior to the event.