Every year, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the Association of New Jersey Recyclers (ANJR) join together to recognize outstanding individual and group efforts to encourage recycling in New Jersey.
At the jointly-sponsored 2013 Recycling Forum and Awards Luncheon, held in Neptune, NJ on October 16, the NJDEP singled out an Essex County town that has taken a unique approach to recycling odd items such as sports trophies and sneakers, a Holmdel woman who has spearheaded waste reduction efforts in her hometown school district, a PSEG environmental manager who has led his company’s recycling efforts for more than two decades, and others including student poets. (Full list of award winners below)
Also at the luncheon, ANJR presented its 2013 REX award to Monica Gismondi, who is the recycling coordinator for the Gloucester County Improvement Authority. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to recycling by an ANJR member who is selected by prior REX award winners. ANJR President Dominick D’Altilio made the presentation on behalf of the organization.
NJDEP RECYCLING AWARDS
Kean University located in Union installed a state-of-the-art composting system on campus that over the past few years has turned more than 291,000 pounds of wastes into compost for projects on the campus and at other community sites, all of which have seen dramatic improvements in soil productivity and plant growth.
GOVERNMENT: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in Plainsboro has reduced the municipal solid waste it generates by 69 percent through education of its work force, implementation of single-stream recycling, and other recycling enhancements.
GOVERNMENT: Nutley Township
Over the past few years, Nutley has significantly increased its community outreach programs and added events, including a residential document shredding day, a composting day, an ink cartridge recycling day, even hanger, trophy and sneaker collection and recycling days. Recycled trophies are donated to a trophy firm in Lyndhurst, and sneakers are donated to the Perpetual Prosperity Pump Foundation.
RISING STAR: Middle School of Pleasantville
The Middle School of Pleasantville and the school’s Gifted and Talented Program implemented a student-driven recycling program two years ago, first placing recycling bins in offices and classrooms throughout the school, and then in the cafeteria and at school entrances. The students also created educational materials to be used throughout the school.
EDUCATOR/EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM: Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority
The Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority is recognized for hosting annual dinners recognizing individuals, businesses, institutions, municipalities, and civic and religious organizations for their work on waste prevention, re-use, recycling and litter abatement. The MUA has hosted 25 such dinners. Dinner guests receive table favors made of recycled materials, and fashion shows feature apparel and accessories made from recycled materials.
RECYCLING INDUSTRY: ReCommunity Recycling
Mine Hill-based ReCommunity has created jobs, recovered community resources, and generated revenues for New Jersey through its recycling partnerships and materials recovery facilities in Camden, Morris, Cape May and Atlantic counties. In 2012, ReCommunity recovered more than 200,000 tons of recyclables, creating 403 direct jobs. ReCommunity also added more than 225,000 tons of single-stream processing capacity in New Jersey. Outreach efforts have included the creation of a website as well as a marketing and social media campaigns, recycling competitions and events, and development of annual sustainability reports.
VOLUNTEER: Dina Hamwi
Dina Hamwi has been instrumental in implementing and expanding recycling efforts in the Holmdel School District, spearheading “Go Green!” parental groups and educating staff and children on proper recycling. She obtained recycling bins from the Holmdel Buildings and Grounds Department for every classroom in the district. Her Girl Scout troop assisted with educational outreach. Hamwi also implemented a program in two schools that recycle less traditional items such as fruit juice pouches, pens and markers, and snack wrappers.
COMMISSIONER’S AWARD: Albert Fralinger III, Environmental Affairs Manager, PSEG
Albert Fralinger III has played a significant role in New Jersey’s recycling community for more than two decades. He initiated waste reduction and recycling programs that have led to recognition of PSEG as one of the country’s top performing businesses in the areas of waste reduction, recycling and overall waste management practices. The company has maintained a corporate-wide recycling rate of more than 90 percent since 1995. As a result of Fralinger’s leadership, PSEG was inducted into the national WasteWise Hall of Fame in 2003. He served as president of the Association of New Jersey Recyclers from 1999 to 2002, helping the association grow and expand its services during his tenure. He also served as co-chairman of the New Jersey WasteWise Business Network from 2004-2013.
POETRY CONTEST WINNERS
Grade 4: Caroline Dillon, St. Catharine School, Spring Lake; Ronya Martin, Paterson Academy for the Gifted and Talented-School #28, Paterson; Brandon Caprioni, Albert P. Terhune Elementary School, Wayne; Erin Stilton, Lucy Holman Elementary School,
Jackson.
Berlin Community School, Berlin Borough; Erin Heaning, Carl H. Kumpf Middle School, Clark;
Madison Edwards, Berlin Community School, Berlin Borough.
Related environmental news stories:
Kean University, Clark Student Honored At NJ Recycling Awards Luncheon – NJ TODAY
New Jersey recognizes Nutley’s recycling efforts – NorthJersey.com
Pleasantville Middle School wins top state recycling award – Press of Atlantic City
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relations counsel to the Association of New Jersey Recyclers—ANJR **
