Clean Communities

Paterson Clean Communities 

Paterson is Picking Up

#KeepingPatersonClean

What is Clean Communities? New Jersey Clean Communities is a statewide, comprehensive litter-abatement program created by the passage of the Clean Communities Act in 1986. The Act provides a funding source for municipalities by placing a tax on fifteen categories of businesses that may produce litter-generating products.

In Paterson, the Clean Communities Grant provides crucial funding to support a variety of local initiatives. These include:

  • Community Cleanup Events, where volunteers, schools, organizations, and local businesses work together to restore public spaces including graffiti removal.

  • Adopt-a-Block programs, where groups or individuals commit to maintaining a designated block or neighborhood helping with litter control, graffiti, and monitoring for illegal dumping.

  • Mini-grants to support local schools, nonprofits, and youth groups leading environmental projects.

  • Public education efforts aimed at raising awareness about proper litter disposal, the environmental impact of illegal dumping, and the importance of reporting violations to enforcement authorities.

  • Enforcement activities that help ensure compliance with anti-littering laws and regulations to keep neighborhoods clean and safe.

Community Cleanups 

If you would like to join us for any of our upcoming community cleanups, sign up here: bit.ly/PatersonCleanUp

  • Saturday, June 28, 2025 - Barbour Park (4th Ward)

  • Saturday, July 12, 2025 - Pennington Park (2nd Ward) *City of Water Day

  • Saturday, August 16, 2025 - Roberto Clemente Park (5th Ward)

  • Saturday, September 20, 2025 - Vreeland Triangle Park (3rd Ward)

  • Saturday, October 18, 2025 - Eastside Park (3rd Ward) *Green Fair