NJ Clean Water on the Move | June 2025

graphic design for clean water on the move

Welcome to Clean Water on the Move, your monthly update from Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund in New Jersey. Thanks for your ongoing support for our work towards a healthy environment for all!

ReThink Disposable Updates!

Clean Water Action’s Zero Waste Specialist, Marta Young, has been working hard at both the municipal and state levels to advance numerous bills! These include NJ's Packaging and Paper Product Stewardship Act or Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) (S3398/A5009) and NJs Skip the Stuff law (S3195 and A5157).

During Earth Month, Marta has been actively spreading the word by tabling at local events across the state as well as being a highlighted speaker and panelist at Beyond Plastic’s 2025 convention in NYC for local groups and affiliates. Marta also created a case study of Red Bank, NJ - proving that significant cost savings and 94% reduction of single use disposals in takeout was achieved.

Climate Superfund – We need your help!

On March 10th, the Climate Superfund Act (S3545/A4969) passed the Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee with a vote of 5-2. This was done in concert with a lobby day and rally with Clean Water Action and allies at EmpowerNJ.

Clean Water Action’s NJ Board Member, Ben Forest, spoke at the rally “As a municipal official, I am responsible for keeping our residents safe from harm, making smart fiscal choices, keeping our communities affordable, as well as adopting policies that improve the quality of life in our town and make us more resilient for what is ahead. We cannot do it without the Climate Superfund Act,”...“Our Red Bank resolution, one of the first of nearly a dozen others, is sending a strong and clear message to our state legislators and Governor that they must act decisively and swiftly when it comes to turning the Climate Superfund Act into law like New York did in December of last year.”

On June 2nd, we held another successful lobby day and rally with EmpowerNJ. Over 100 people attended, and NJ Board Member and Red Bank Councilperson Nancy Facey-Blackwood spoke. There are now 40 legislative sponsors, over 3 dozen municipal resolutions and 100+ groups in support of Climate Superfund. View the press release and speaker quotes here. This legislation is critical to ensuring that the burden of cost is not placed on the people and towns of New Jersey but that polluters pay for their wrongdoing. If you are interested in helping pass a municipal resolution like the one in Red Bank and nearly 20 other municipalities, please reach out to Molly Cleary.

Clean Water Action EJ Organizer X Braithwaite Speaking on the Clean Beauty Campaign

Clean Beauty Campaign Updates!

Our Environmental Justice Organizer, X Braithwaite, has been engaging our community and keeping them informed of toxic beauty practices. Clean Water Action conducted two webinars on Clean Beauty: Hidden Costs of Beauty and The Tea on Chemicals of Concern. X has hosted informational, tabling activities and served as a panelist at several community events. Stay tuned for the next event opportunities and join our Beauty with Impact working group here!

NJ Staff at World Asthma Day Truck Count

World Asthma Day Truck Count Event & Why We Count

On May 20th, our Zero Emissions & Warehouse Organizer, Tolani Taylor, spearheaded a truck count event which brought together both local residents and Coalition of Healthy Ports (CHP) partner groups in Elizabeth, NJ. Together, we monitored air quality and collected data using Atmotube air sensors.

The purpose of the truck count was to demonstrate the connection between diesel truck pollution coming from NJ’s ports and warehouses and nearby community residents developing respiratory issues like asthma. The truck count was also an opportunity to pressure state legislators to reject (A4967/S3817), which proposes delaying implementation of the state ACT (Advanced Clean Truck Rule) another two years and support for the NJ Indirect Source Review bill (A4679/S3546).

This truck count is part of a larger Why We Count initiative created by Coalition for Healthy Ports (CHP) Coordinator Kelli Koontz-Wilson and launched in May. These hands-on participatory truck counts are being led by CHP member organizations including Clean Water Action, South Ward Environmental Alliance (SWEA), Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC), and the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance (NJEJA).

Through truck counting and data collection, the coalition can begin to document diesel impacts in already overburdened neighborhoods, educate the community about the dangers of dirty diesel, as well as provide engagement and empowerment activities that encourage advocacy and motivate state and local officials to embrace the changes we seek. Elizabeth and Newark (specifically South Ward and Ironbound) are the first of NJ several port adjacent cities that CHP will conduct Why We Count activities. If interested in getting involved, you can contact Coalition of Healthy Ports Coordinator, Kelli Koontz-Wilson.