New Jersey Recognizes Six Recycling Initiatives at 2026 Awards
NJDEP honored organizations advancing solar panel recycling, food waste recovery, municipal composting, business waste reduction and community reuse.
MONTREAL (RecyclingMonster): The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) honored six recycling and waste reduction initiatives on October 28, 2026, during the Association of New Jersey Recyclers' annual symposium in Monroe, New Jersey.
The awards recognized achievements in material recovery, food waste diversion, recycling infrastructure, business sustainability and community reuse.
Hoboken and Solar Recycler Among Award Winners
City of Hoboken – Government Award: The city's composting program, launched in 2015, diverted 265,560 pounds of food scraps from landfills in 2025 through residential and commercial collection services.
Commercial Solar Panel Recycling Inc. – Recycling Industry Award: The Phillipsburg facility has processed nearly 20,000 solar panels, recovering approximately 245,000 pounds of glass, 36,000 pounds of aluminum and 1,500 pounds of junction boxes and wiring.
Table to Table – Leadership Award: The nonprofit recovered more than 25 million pounds of surplus perishable food in 2025 for distribution to hunger-relief organizations.
Food Waste Collection, Business Recycling and Reuse Recognized
Torus – Rising Star Award: The West Windsor-based student-led organization served more than 1,000 households and businesses across 19 municipalities, diverting over 150,000 pounds of food waste in 2025.
ECOS (Earth Friendly Products) – Business Award: The cleaning products manufacturer diverted 99.3% of its manufacturing and office waste from disposal facilities in 2025, avoiding more than $273,000 in disposal costs.
Roxbury Community Repair Café – Waste Reduction, Resource Management/Sustainability Award: Roxbury Township, Roxbury Public Library and the Lake Hopatcong Foundation were recognized for their collaborative program offering free repairs to extend the useful life of household products.
RecyclingMonster Industry Edge
Waste Prevention and Recovery Deliver Measurable Results: The award winners illustrate different approaches to materials management, from specialized solar panel processing to food rescue and repair. ECOS' reported disposal-cost savings also demonstrate the potential financial value of waste reduction programs.