Morristown Clean Communities Committee
200 South Street, CN 914
Morristown, NJ 07960-0914
# 973.644.4363
SOME FACTS ABOUT LITTER
What are the sources of litter?
-Improper household put-outs
-Improper commerical put-outs
-Construction sites
-Uncovered trucks
-Careless motorists
-Pedestrians
How does litter get around?
-Traffic
-Animals (including people, of course)
-Wind
-Water
10 THINGS YOU CAN DO ABOUT LITTER
1. Put household trash in heavy plastic bags or in platic or metal cans with tight-fitting lids. Keep the area around your garbage can clean, and to prevent animals from getting into your trash, put a drop or two of ammonia in your containers before sealing them.
2. Maintain a neat, litter-free yard. It not only looks better, but it doesn't invite additional litter.
3. Encourage your merchants to keep their stores litter-free.
4. Always use proper trash and recycling receptacles at home and at work.
5. As an employer, see to it that adequate receptacles are available at convenient places and that they are eptied regularly.
6. If you are in the construction or demolition business, be sure that sites are maintained daily and that adequate trash containers are available.
7. See to it that trucks under your supervision are covered whenever they are hauling potential litter.
8. Use litter bags in your cars, trash receptacles in parks or even use your pockets when other containers are not available. Also, always throw cigarette butts in the proper place, NOT on the ground.
9. If you see litter, pick it up; don't wait for someone else to do it for you.
10. Let business-people and neighbors know how much importance you attach to a clean Morristown.
THIS IS HOW MORRISTOWN SOLVES ITS LITTER PROBLEM
1. Updating our ordinances: Driveways, yards, parking lots, loading areas and pedestrian areas are now required to be kept clean, with littler placed in containers neatly maintained. Trucks carrying trash must be covered to prevent the contents from being scattered. Vacant lots must be kept clean.
2. Improved technology: Modern street-sweeping equipment operating on well-planned schedules is one sure way to get the clean-up job done...the recycling of trash not only makes for a cleaner town, but is also worth money to the town.
3. Continuous education: The public is kept informed by newspaper articles, brochures and public service announcements. In addition, worskshops are conducted for schools, citizen neighborhood groups, businesses, churches and civic organizations.
4. Enforcement: Seeing to it that the anti-litter ordinances are carried out is very important. Greater awareness by Morristown residents and visitors has resulted in a more enthusiastic support for recycling and litter prevention programs.
5. Community involvement: Town wide clean-up projects, Adopt-a-Block programs, and neighborhood beautification projects allow members of the community to have "hands on" involvement, taking pride in public ownership.
A town-wide committee has been formed with members representing all parts of Morristown life. The Morristown Clean Team task is divided into 8 work areas:
Government - to work on laws and enforcement.
Business - to get cooperation from owners and managers in keeping their premises clean.
Civic Groups - to bring the program to community organizations and gain community support.
Public Relations - to keep the program before the public.
Neighborhoods - to foster community pride and proper recycling and garbage disposal.
Schools - to encourage school pride and promote formal curriculums in elementary and secondary schools.
Recycling - to promote and improve our recycling programs.
Finance - to secure funds and resources to permit efficient programs.
You are the key to making it work! As a member of the Morristown Clean Team, you will be working as a Clean Team partner with our municipal government and your friends and neighbors - the people who live, work and shop in Morristown.
The goal is to clean up the litter that is here now, then work to keep it that way. Take a few minutes now to police the area around you (sidewalks, yards, etc.), then plan a few minutes once a month to regularly check to see that your area stays clean.
Get together with your neighbors or neighborhood group to set up a neighborhood spruce-up program. Just a few people working only an hour or so once a month can go further - sponsor a beautification project, plant flowers up and down your street. Work together to make your neighborhood the most attractive in town!
