Ongoing Initiatives

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Have you been to the Drew Forest Preserve? If you have, you already know that this 53-acre forest is a North Jersey gem, a biodiversity hotspot with a rare understory of native plants and native trees. Friends of the Drew Forest is working toward a market-valueconservation sale of the entire 53-acre forest. This win-win solution is modeled on the successful $14 million sale of 130 acres at Giralda Farms, achieved with county open space money and other funds. It would preserve the Forest and provide needed funds for Drew University.
Residential curbside composting pick-up available through Java's Compost. Your food scraps can be recycled into nutrient rich compost. Click here for sign-up details, pricing information and how you can receive 10 lbs. of finished compost back, or donate it to a Java's urban farm partner!  
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    Java's Compost, a family-owned local business based in West Orange, invites Madison
     residents to sign up here for residential service. They currently serve Chatham,
     Summit, Short Hills, Millburn, Maplewood, South Orange, West Orange, Montclair, Glen
     Ridge and Bloomfield. Shown here are owners Java and Michelle Bradley.   Photo by Lisa White
    Click here to learn more, including the benefits of composting and what (and what not) to compost.
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Previous Initiatives and Events 

In anticipation of the March 1, 2020 plastic bag ban, the Madison Environmental Commission launched a reusable bag drive on November 25, 2019. “We hope to collect a large amount of bags to donate community groups that are not likely to have a stash of reusable bags,” says Claire Whitcomb, Environmental Commission Chair.
The Madison Environmental Commission hosted a Plastic-Free Week from April 27th - May 4th 2019.  Residents were encouraged to take an online pledge and take a different sustainability action each day of the week.  Actions included Skip-the-Straw and use of Reusable Bags
The Madison Open Space, Recreation & Historic Preservation Advisory Committee and Parks Committee held their ribbon cutting ceremony on National Trails Day® to celebrate the new trail loops at Summerhill Park on Saturday, June 1, 2019.  Summerhill Park is a beautiful wooded park in Madison, NJ. The land was acquired to preserve open space and natural resources as part of the Borough’s Open Space and Recreation Plan. The many access points within the park allows for the connection to downtown Madison, other parks and recreational facilities, and two of our schools.
The Madison Environmental Commission gave away free milkweed plants on May Day May 5th, 2018. Madison Environmental Commission member, Joan Maccari planted 100 milkweed seeds at the Madison Community Garden and shared the 5-inch seedlings. The Community Garden and the Madison Recreation Center, home to several pollinator gardens and are an excellent resource for residents interested in native plants. In addition Central Avenue School has a butterfly garden, Drew University has a wildflower meadow, and St. Paul Behind the Walls has an extensive pollinator garden.
The Madison Environmental Commission and Drew University held a Green Vision Forum on April 19th 2018 at Drew University’s Ehinger center. School green teams and students from Madison’s elementary, junior and high schools, along with college students from Drew University and Fairleigh Dickinson University presented made short presentations about their vision for a greener Madison. Mayor Bob Conley introduced the event and town officials, including Borough Council members and the superintendent of public works, who were on hand to answer questions and talk with students and their families. 
The Madison Environmental Commission partnered  with local experts to provide easy answers at its Green Forum on June 14th, 2017.  The Forum was designed around three topics:  Greening Your Yard; Reducing Your Trash and Lowering Your Energy Bills.
Madison received $20,000 from Sustainable Jersey allowing it to restore a 20-acre area of land in the borough to its natural state, the organization said. The section of land to be restored is the only native wooded wetland tract in Madison’s park system and one of the few remaining freshwater wetlands in the state.  The grant will be used to restore the understory be replanting trees and shrubs, and an information/storage shed will be built at the entrance to the forest area. The shed will house maintenance supplies and education materials.  Additionally, a bulletin board and trail map explaining the things to do and see will be installed on the shed. Finally, signage will be placed throughout to help identify tree and plant species, and aquifer benefits.
Madison was awarded one of the Daily Record’s Grasssroots Awards at the 2014 annual fundraising gathering in Morristown. This Sustainable Morristown event creates a venue to help celebrate those taking steps to build a more sustainable future. Congratulations to all who help make Madison a greener, more sustainable community! 
Read the article by clicking here!
Dedication of the TRAILS at the Madison Recreation Complex took place on Saturday, June 7th 2014 as the Madison community gathered to celebrate National Trails Day.

Madison held its first annual Green Forum on January 24, 2013.  Residents came together to participate in brainstorming discussions on Madison's Green Spaces, Getting Around Madison and Green Homes and Businesses.  

 Town Resolution Updates

The Madison Borough Council unanimously adopted the following resolutions to promote sustainability in Madison on June 10, 2013:
  • Green Purchasing Policy
  • Community Vision for a Green Madison
  • Green Grounds and Maintenance Policy
  • Resource-Saving Policy

For details on these resolutions, go to http://www.rosenet.org/462/Green-Initiatives

Looking Ahead

Keep your eye on the monthly calendar for meeting dates and upcoming events!