The Car Wash Operators of New Jersey (CWONJ) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) have created a partnership that will provide charities and non-profit organizations with an opportunity to hold fundraising car washes at commercial car wash facilities. While charitable car washes perform a valuable service to our communities, these activities can also result in unanticipated impacts to the State's water resources by discharging pollutants such as petroleum hydrocarbons, surfactants as well as nutrients and metals which can flow into a storm drain, eventually making its way to our rivers, lakes and streams.
CWONJ and the Department are soliciting CWONJ members to join our partnership and provide charities and non-profit organizations with discounted car wash tickets (by 50 percent) that they can resell at face value. This is truly a situation were all parties benefit. Charities and non-profit organizations can raise money for their causes, the Department accomplishes their goal of protecting water quality, and CWONJ members gain valuable exposure in the community. In addition, CWONJ members have the satisfaction of knowing that they are doing their part to protect the environment.
The first step is to become a participating car wash by completing and returning the enclosed application. The CWONJ will then create a list of participating members that will then be supplied to schools, religious organizations and other charities and non-profit groups. Interested entities will then contact your car wash directly. Participating CWONJ members will receive a set of posters and a Certificate of Recognition from the NJDEP. In the upcoming months, the CWONJ will send out a brochure to charities and organizations to promote the car wash program, and the NJDEP will publicize the effort through its outreach programs.
Should you have any questions or require additional information, you can contact me at (609)888-2568 or the association's office at (800)287-6604.
Sincerely,
Doug Karvelas, Charity Carwash Program Chairperson
