STAFFORD – A group of dedicated volunteers rolled up their sleeves to help keep Stafford clean and beautiful, collecting an impressive 30 bags of trash during a neighborhood cleanup near Campbell Boulevard by the water tower.
The cleanup, organized in conjunction with the township’s Green Team, aimed to restore the beauty of the area nestled near Stafford Preserve Apartments and the ongoing D.R. Horton’s Stafford Park development. Volunteers, from eager students fulfilling community service hours for National Honor Society to seasoned residents, met at Stafford’s Park of the Pines, ready to face the challenge.
High winds, a constant foe, scattered debris far and wide. However, the volunteers, undeterred, wielded grabber tools with precision, retrieving everything from stray plastic bottles to rogue pieces of cardboard. Some even brought their own buckets, transforming themselves into mobile trash receptacles.
Notably, the 30 bags of debris were outside the realm of regular trash. Volunteers removed 25 bags of garbage, two bags of recyclables, two tires, three sign holders, a dead tree, cardboard, corrugated signs, and even a piece of carpet! The sheer variety of items underscored the need for such cleanup efforts.
Stafford Township regularly hosts cleanup events, including a major initiative involving up to 22 groups through the Stafford Township Clean Communities Program. Participants not only help keep the town tidy but also receive small grants for their efforts.
Stafford Township Administrator Matthew von der Hayden and Mayor Robert Henkin joined the effort.
Some of the clean-up involved negotiating hills made by construction still underway in the final stages of the Stafford Park development. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
“The grant comes from a recycling tax the state collects when towns take materials to the landfill,” explained von der Hayden. “Every year, the state divides the tax money among municipalities to fund clean communities programs, which help remove litter and educate residents.”
Stafford has also introduced quarterly cleanups, an initiative started last year by the Green Team. “We pick one location each time and focus our efforts there,” von der Hayden said. “For our township-wide cleanup, we tackle multiple locations. This year, we’re partnering with Save Barnegat Bay to maximize our impact.”
One of the innovative outcomes of the township-wide cleanup was developed by Green Team member Barbara Reynolds. “She also runs the Second Chance Toy Drive,” von der Hayden explained. “During our cleanup, she collects old plastic toys to keep them out of the waste stream. The next day, she distributes them to underprivileged children.”
Volunteers scoured the park and construction areas for garbage. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
Meet The Green Team
The Stafford Township Green Team has been leading sustainability efforts since 2019. After earning its Bronze Level Certification from Sustainable Jersey in 2020, the team reached Silver Level status in 2023. They’ve completed over 30 sustainability projects, earning 385 points for their efforts.
The Green Team’s initiatives include community education and outreach events, volunteer-maintained community gardens, the installation of EV charging stations, a recycling depot, municipal carbon footprint reduction, prescription drug safety and disposal programs, a backyard composting program, and the popular Stafford Township Farmers Market.
Henken expressed his gratitude to all the volunteers who worked together during the clean-up, saying that “every effort, big or small,” makes a lasting impact in keeping the community clean and beautiful.
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