The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) honored businesses, organizations and individual recycling leaders during an annual symposium hosted by the Association of New Jersey Recyclers (ANJR). Award winners included a Bergen County health facility that is reducing food waste, a Union County business that has been recycling foam materials since the early 1970s, and Marie Kruzan, the recently retired longtime executive director of ANJR.
In 1987, New Jersey became the first state to enact legislation requiring recycling in residential, commercial and institutional settings. Through strong grants and education programs, New Jersey has achieved an overall recycling rate of 55 percent.
The DEP urges all residents to participate in their local recycling program and do their part to keep non-acceptable materials, such as plastic bags, trash, propane tanks and used syringes, out of curbside and workplace recycling bins.
Award categories and recipients of the 2023 recycling awards include:
Institution – Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus, Bergen County, implemented food waste reduction measures that prevented 14,562 pounds of food waste from occurring in 2022, which was the equivalent of saving 12,134 meals. The facility’s food waste reduction initiative is run as an employee engagement program, which recognizes team members tracking food waste as Waste Warriors. The entire medical center was included in a campaign to raise awareness about the food waste initiative through their managers, internal communications and posters in food service locations.
Business – L’Oreal USA
L’Oreal USA operates facilities in Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties, and implemented recycling and waste reduction initiatives that enabled the company to recycle or reuse 56.5 percent of the waste generated at the company’s New Jersey locations in 2022. L’Oreal recycles plastics, paper, corrugated cardboard, wooden pallets, oils, batteries, IT equipment, food waste and more. The company also recycles non-traditional materials, such as the ethanol used in its fragrances. Additionally, in 2022, 23.3 percent of the packaging used at its New Jersey manufacturing sites was from post-consumer recycled material. As part of L’Oréal’s commitment to sustainability, manufacturing site members are educated about the efficient utilization and preservation of natural resources.
Government – Village of Ridgefield Park
The Bergen County community recycles traditional curbside recyclable materials and a wide variety of non-traditional recyclable materials, such as batteries, sneakers, crayons, razors, rigid plastics, bottle caps, cooking oil, expanded polystyrene and more. In addition, convenient textile and plastic bag recycling drop-off sites have been established throughout the village. Recycling and sustainability programs are promoted through various means, including the Recycle Coach system, social media, the municipal website, recycling calendars, public events, information sessions for the public and through collaborations with schools and other organizations. Reuse is promoted in Ridgefield Park through periodic Swap & Shop events, during which residents trade items they no longer need.
Government – Joseph Slomian
Thanks to the leadership of Slomian, recycling coordinator for Monroe Township in Middlesex County, the community achieved a 65 percent recycling rate and anticipates an even higher rate in upcoming years. The township collects traditional curbside materials, but also accepts numerous materials at its recycling center, including paint, batteries, used motor and cooking oil, scrap metal, propane tanks, expanded polystyrene and electronics. Under Slomian’s supervision, various upgrades and improvements were made at the recycling center. In addition, Slomian conducts periodic enforcement audits of curbside recycling and regularly speaks with residents about the need to recycle correctly. He uses the township’s Enviro-Mobile (a mobile learning center), the Recycle Coach system, newsletters, special events, and more to educate residents about recycling.
Leadership – Anthony Marrone
Marrone, district recycling coordinator for Morris County, has implemented numerous successful recycling and waste reduction programs. He improved the operations of the county’s household hazardous waste program, obtained NJDEP grants for equipment modernization, and addressed a curbside collection crew employee shortage by making a county-run Commercial Driver’s License training program more accessible to staff. He also designed educational flyers, decals, and signs, instituted a boat shrink wrap recycling program, performed municipal curbside inspections, and assisted municipal recycling coordinators. In addition, Marrone established an intern program for students seeking experience in the field of recycling, developed an electronic waste drop-off program, attended various events where he educates the public about recycling, and established reusable bag drop-off stations.
Rising Star – Jaime Luppino
Jaime Luppino has been the recycling coordinator for the Borough of Bergenfield in Bergen County for the past three years and in that time has led the program to new heights. She not only runs the recycling department, but also heads up the borough’s Clean Communities initiatives. Luppino has created numerous recycling educational programs for residents and school districts, held a fundraiser at a local library where kids were asked to design a reusable bag, speaks at school assemblies, and sets up and staffs recycling information tables at special events. Luppino’s passion and work ethic have also made her a premier recycling advisor for neighboring recycling coordinators.
Recycling Industry – Foam Pack Industries
Foam Pack Industries in Springfield, Union County, has been recycling expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam since 1971. The company recycles 500,000 pounds of EPS foam per year and accepts material from numerous industries, municipalities, and residents. During the past 50 years, Foam Pack Industries’ recycling program has kept more than 20 million pounds of EPS out of landfills. Recycled EPS is used in the production of many products and packaging and is 100 percent recyclable. Foam Pack Industries, which recently ceased operations after many years, has worked closely with municipal and county collection programs and has educated the public about the benefits of recycling EPS.