Sussex County agency honored for outstanding recycling education in state environmental awards
TRENTON, N.J. — The Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority (SCMUA) has been recognized by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for its leadership in recycling education, earning the Outstanding Educator/Educational Program Award in the state’s 2025 Recycling Awards Program.
The awards, announced Wednesday during a ceremony at Jumping Brook Country Club in Neptune, honored nine individuals, organizations, schools, and businesses across New Jersey for their commitment to recycling and sustainability. The event was held in conjunction with the annual recycling symposium hosted by the Association of New Jersey Recyclers (ANJR).
“Recycling is a longstanding environmental and economic success story – and a way of life in New Jersey, which paved the way for recycling for the nation,” said Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “We applaud the winners for their efforts to keep New Jersey at the forefront of recycling through their outstanding work to advance waste reduction and sustainability in communities across the state.”
SCMUA was recognized for its robust and creative recycling education initiatives, including a redesigned website featuring improved graphics and resources on food waste reduction, recycling for businesses, and town-specific recycling guidance. The authority also hosts recycling center tours, community presentations, and special educational events designed to engage residents of all ages in sustainable practices.
“We are confident that the accomplishments of the award winners will serve to inspire others to reduce waste, recycle more and purchase recycled content products at home and on the job,” said Paul Baldauf, DEP Assistant Commissioner for Air, Energy and Materials Sustainability. “The DEP is proud of our longstanding partnership with the Association of New Jersey Recyclers to promote sustainability through the conservation of precious resources.”
Other honorees included Saint Peter’s University in Hudson County, the Township of Monroe in Middlesex County, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County Bike Exchange, which diverts bicycles from the waste stream through repair and resale.
New Jersey became the first state in the nation to mandate recycling in 1987. In 2022, the state achieved a recycling rate of 54 percent. The Murphy administration continues to advance sustainability initiatives, including reducing single-use plastics, increasing recycling education, and developing new recycling technologies.
For more information about New Jersey’s recycling programs, visit recycle.nj.gov, or learn more about the Association of New Jersey Recyclers at anjr.com.
