When it comes to creating sustainable communities in South Jersey, the responsibility falls on everyone’s shoulders. Each household needs to do its part by recycling, reducing energy consumption, conserving water and protecting ecosystems. Local governments must also contribute by conducting similar activities on municipal properties while offering services that make it easier for residents to help the environment.

South Jersey’s local governments and residents don’t always have to always work separately on their green initiatives. Sustainable Jersey (SustainableJersey. com) is a certification program for state municipalities that want to “go green, save money and take steps to sustain their quality of life over the long term.” It encourages towns to create Green Teams of town employees, city council members and community volunteers.

Nearly half of New Jersey’s municipalities (407) have registered with Sustainable Jersey. Once registered, towns form Green Teams—sometimes called Sustainable Teams or Environmental Commissions—and start the work toward Sustainable Jersey certification.

Any borough or township that is registered is eligible for the benefits that Sustainable Jersey provides including the ability to apply for Sustainable Jersey Small Grants. Certified municipalities enjoy the added benefits of being able to use the Sustainable Jersey logo on their promotional materials and a chance to win various awards. Being recognized as a leader in sustainability in the state can attract residents that want to live in a town that cares about the environment.

Every municipality already has residents that care about the environment and want to help their community become as sustainable as possible, but sometimes they don’t know where to start. That’s where the Green Teams come in. Many towns have them and most towns welcome new, eager volunteers that care about greening-up the community.

The following is a partial list of the active community Green Teams in South Jersey.

Burlington County

Bordentown City – Meets the third Tuesday of each month at the Carslake Community Center’s Senior’s Room at 7 p.m. For more information, contact [email protected]. Mark your calendar: Bordentown City’s Annual Green Fair, June 14.

Bordentown Twp. – Meets the third Monday of each month at the municipal building at 7:30 p.m. For more information, contact Roger Plew at 609-306-7470 or [email protected].

Chesterfield Twp. – For information about this community’s Green Team, contact [email protected].

Evesham Twp. – The Evesham Township Environmental Commission meets the second Monday of each month at 8 p.m. in room 208B of the Municipal Services Building. For more information, call 856-983-2900.

Moorestown – For information about meetings and events for this community’s team, Sustainable Moorestown, visit SustainableMoorestown.org.

Mt. Laurel – For information about this community’s Green Team, email [email protected].

Camden County

Audubon – For information about this community’s Green Team, contact the borough at 856-547-0711. Mark your calendar: Audubon Town Wide Yard Sale is on April 12. While not an official Green Team event, yard sales are a wonderful way to shop sustainably.

Barrington – Meets the first Tuesday of each month in the mayor’s office at the municipal building at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact [email protected]. Good to Know: The town’s Woodland Middle School has its own Green Team for students in grades five to eight.

Camden – Camden’s team is known as Camden SMART and is always looking for volunteers. For more information, visit Camdensmat.com. Mark your calendar: Build a Rain Barrel Workshop at Camden Children’s Garden on May 17 for Camden residents only. To register, call 848-932-6747.

Cherry Hill – Sustainable Cherry Hill is highly active with a Green Team and various events throughout the year. For more information, visit SustainableCherryHill.org. Mark your calendar: 5th Annual Cherry Hill Earth Festival at Croft Farm on April 26, one of the largest green events in the region.

Collingswood – For information about this community’s Green Team, visit Collingswood.com. Mark your calendar: 6th Annual Collingswood Green Festival, April 12.

Gloucester Twp. – For information about this community’s Green Team, visit GloTWP.com/sustainable/.

Haddonfield – Sustainable Haddonfield meets the third Tuesday of each month at Borough Hall at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 856-429-4700, ext. 321.

Haddon Twp. – For information about Sustainable Haddon Township, visit SHTGreenTeam.blogspot.com. Mark your calendar: Haddon Township’s Green Event where you can bring your recycling and shop local vendors is April 26.

Pennsauken – For information about this town’s Green Team, visit TWP.Pennsauken.nj.us/content/pennsauken-green-team.

Runnemede – Meets the second Thursday of each month at 3:15 p.m. in the library. For RunnemedeGreenTeam.org. Keep an eye out for: The Runnemede Community Garden at the corner of the Harry Williams Gym and the library.

Stratford – Meets every fourth Wednesday at Yellin’s school library. For more information, visit StratfordGreenTeam.org.

Voorhees Twp. – Meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at 2400 Voorhees Town Center. For more information, visit SustainableVoorhees.org.

Gloucester County

East Greenwich Twp. – The Environmental Commission meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 P.M. at the municipal building. For more information, visit EastGreenwichNJ.com. Mark you calendar: Free Shredding Event, May 3 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the municipal building parking lot.

Franklin Twp. – The Environmental Commission meets every first and third Monday at 7 p.m. at the municipal building council chambers. Mark your calendar: Build-a-Rain Barrel Workshop, May 3, from 9 a.m. to noon at the municipal building. To register, email [email protected].

Monroe Twp. – For information about this town’s Green Team, email [email protected] or visit the Sustainable Monroe Facebook page.

If you didn’t see your community listed here, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a Green Team. Seventy-two of the communities in Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties have registered with Sustainable Jersey. Some of the teams are just gearing up and need an infusion of fresh volunteers to help them move forward. Others are well established but still looking for interest and input from members of the community.

If your city or town isn’t listed, call your municipality and say, “I’d like information about our town’s Green Team. I want to get involved.”