Sustainability protects resources for future generations Page: 4 of 7
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Newark is already
home to more than70 recycling firms that
Newark's Environmental
Master Plan
The Environmental Master Plan
describes specific actions and ordi-
nances that have helped catapult
Newark, New Jersey, into the sustain-
ability arena. The city has made the
following changes because of the plan.
" Installed high-pressure sodium
street lights to replace less efficient
fluorescent, incandescent, and
mercury-vapor units.
" Adopted a landmark law restricting
the use and disposal of ozone-
depleting chemicals.
- Passed an ordinance requiring
builders to replace trees removed
from construction sites or pay into a
special Planting and Preservation
Fund used to plant trees in the city.
" Implemented a policy to plant at
least 2000 trees each year.
" Created an Urban Gardening Pro-
gram that encourages transforma-
tion of vacant lots into community
gardens.
" Banned retail food establishments
in the city from using two forms of
plastic-polystyrene and polyvinyl
chloride-unless they recycle at
least 60% of their packaging.
" Established a recycling program
that has saved taxpayers more than
$15 million in 8 years.employ more than
1000 people.The first step of San Jose's work was
an environmental scan to ascertain
energy use and costs throughout the
city. Based on that information and
projections, the city adopted a long-
term energy policy based on sustain-
able development and set a target of a
10% reduction in energy consump-
tion by the year 2000.
The city's Energy Management office
identified numerous program options
to achieve the 10% reduction goal.
After further evaluation, the City
Council selected four programs
for implementation during the first
year of the project: educational pro-
grams, municipal operations, techni-
cal assistance programs, and policy
and regulation.
One direct result of the Sustainable
City Project is the San Jose Conven-
tion Center cogeneration system. By
using a cogeneration plant to provide
electrical power and thermal energy,
the convention center saves 50% on
energy costs for heating, cooling, and
lighting. The same cogeneration sys-
tem supplies electricity to the city's
main library and a downtown hotel.
In addition, the city makes money
from the system by selling excess elec-
tricity from the cogeneration facility to
the local utility during off-peak hours.
Newark, New Jersey
Years ago, when local government
officials in Newark, New Jersey,
embarked on the road to sustainabil-
ity, they didn't have any guidelines
to help in their planning efforts. In
spite of this, the city made significant
strides toward sustainability and is
overcoming a legacy of industrial
development at the expense of the
environment.Newark has received numerous
awards-from the United Nations,
the International Council for Local
Environmental Initiatives, and
the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency-for its various sustainability
programs. One Newark program
repeatedly recognized is recycling.
Newark currently recycles 52% of its
solid waste under a program estab-
lished by ordinance in 1987. Since
1990, the city's recycling program
has saved taxpayers $15.44 million
in disposal fees and collected nearly
$167,000 in revenue from the sale
of recyclables.
Two subsequent ordinances support
the city's recycling efforts. In 1988,
the Municipal Council approved an
ordinance requiring proposals for
new developments of 50 or more
single-family units, 25 or more multi-
family units, or 1000 square feet or
more of commercial/industrial space
to incorporate provisions for the sep-
aration, collection, and disposal of
recyclable materials. The city ensured
a market for recycled materials by
adopting legislation requiring city
agencies to purchase finished recy-
cled products.
Recently, the city established a busi-
ness development program-Planet
Newark-for companies in the recy-
cling industry. Newark is already
home to more than 70 recycling firms
that employ more than 1000 people
and generate millions of dollars in eco-
nomic activity and revenues. City offi-
cials believe Planet Newark will create
a ripple effect of economic activity and
increased tax revenues to support
further environmental initiatives.
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Sustainability protects resources for future generations, report, April 1, 1995; Golden, Colorado. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc691641/m1/4/?rotate=0: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.