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Green Leaf Business Recognition Program

Overview

The Rutherford Green Leaf program is the Borough’s way of recognizing, supporting, and promoting businesses that make a commitment to sustainability. The program also aims to educate businesses on sustainable practices that help in saving money, minimizing risk, and gaining competitive advantages. In order to become a member of the program, a business must describe their current and pledged sustainability efforts:

• Five sustainable business actions from 11 topic categories
  • Four of these actions must be in specific topic areas we feel are best suited for Rutherford
  • A measurable environmental benefit in one of the actions
  • A quantifiable cost savings in one of the actions

We want the application process to be as simple as possible, so if you want to apply, or just learn more, please contact the Green Team. We’ll be happy to set up a time to sit down with you and go over the application process (this shouldn’t take more than an hour of your time). The Rutherford Green Team also stands ready to assist our Green Leaf businesses in tapping into existing financial assistance, understanding the evolving regulatory environment and advising on simple changes that can make a lasting impact in our community.

Requirements

The criteria used in our program are based on the New Jersey Sustainable Business Registry (NJSBR), a free statewide program that is a partnership between the Rutgers’ New Jersey Small Business Development Centers (NJSBDC) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). To be listed on this registry, a business must commit to five (5) actions in 11 categories (listed below) including one (1) measurable environmental benefit and one (1) cost savings they experienced. Businesses need to re-register every two (2) years at which time they must add one (1) action and one (1) measurable result.

To qualify for the Rutherford Green Leaf program, a business must commit to four of the five NJSBR actions in the mandatory categories listed below, including the category of “Rutherford” where we require a business to list how it complies with existing waste and recycling regulations and provides single-use items only upon request. Additionally, we’ve identified several “priority actions” that we feel are of high value to our town. These actions are not mandatory since they don’t apply to all businesses, but we feel that they deserve special emphasis and will be highlighted on the certification and on our town website.

NJSBR Categories

(mandatory Rutherford Green Leaf categories in bold)

• Rutherford
  • List how you comply with existing waste and recycling regulations and provide single-use items (i.e. take-away flatware, carry-out bags, condiments) only upon request
• Community
• Management & Leadership
• Waste
• Energy
• Transportation
• Water
• Sustainability Certification/Recognition Programs
• Green Building Techniques
• Environmental & Community Restoration
• Industry Specific
• Emergency Preparedness

Rutherford Green Team “priority actions” include

• Management & Leadership: Provide Environmentally Preferable Products and Services
• Waste: Waste Reduction (non-food service business) or Food Waste (food service business)
• Energy: Energy Efficiency
• Water: Stormwater Management & Site Design
• Certification Programs: Other Sustainability Certification/Recognition Programs
• Environmental & Community Restoration: Share your Environmental Successes

Application

You can submit your info using our application form