The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection recently honored businesses, organizations and individual recycling leaders during an annual symposium hosted by the Association of New Jersey Recyclers (ANJR).
Two NJBIA member companies are among the award winners: Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, a health facility in Paramus that is reducing food waste, and L’Oréal USA, which has implemented recycling and waste reduction initiatives that have enabled the company to recycle or reuse 56.5% of the waste generated at its New Jersey facilities in Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties.
“Recycling remains an important way for the public to conserve resources, reduce waste, enhance sustainability, and improve our quality of life,” said Paul Baldauf, DEP assistant commissioner. “These award winners should serve as role models for all of us in our daily lives.”
L’Oréal USA recycles plastics, paper, corrugated cardboard, wooden pallets, oils, batteries, IT equipment, food waste and more, according to DEP. The company also recycles non-traditional materials, such as the ethanol used in its fragrances. Additionally, in 2022, 23.3% of the packaging used at its New Jersey manufacturing sites was from post-consumer recycled material.
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center implemented food waste reduction measures that prevented 14,562 pounds of food waste from occurring in 2022, which was the equivalent of 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.
Other 2023 Recycling Award winners include:
- The Village of Ridgefield Park
- Joseph Slomian, Monroe Township Recycling Coordinator
- Anthony Marrone, Morris County District Recycling Coordinator
- Jaime Luppino, Bergenfield Borough Recycling Coordinator
- Marci Meixler, Associate Teaching Professor at Rutgers University
- Foam Pack Industries in Springfield, Union County
- The Rutgers Cooperative Extension
- Marie Kruzan, Executive Director, ANJR
