Recycling Awards Promote NJ Green Living

Morris County of New Jersey encourages individual and community participation in sustainable living through an annual recycling awards dinner, where awards are presented to community innovators in green living.

An example of the individuals awarded is Martin Brooks, winner of the “Grinding Trash to a Halt” award for developing Suburban Furniture’s Randolph warehouse recycling program. The operations manager worked to find a recycling market for waste materials, such as cardboard, paper, plastic, wood and steel leftover when furniture is unpacked. He subsequently reduced the company’s operating costs by 40 percent.

On Nov. 7, the county celebrated its 21st awards dinner. Other individuals and companies who were recognized include:

• TerraCycle: An innovative company that markets plant food grown with worm waste.
• PNC Bank, Rockaway Townsquare Mall: The bank is committed to build only green branches, using more efficient and recycled building materials, selecting exterior plants that require less water and using furniture made from recycled materials.
• Don Theriault: This individual worked with the municipal utilities authority to recycle fluorescent light bulbs. At his current workplace, he organizes weekly collections of bottles, cans and paper.
• Kinnelon Conserves: This grassroots organization created a program of environmental awareness through a website and public activities.
• Cynthia Onorevele: The Morris Knolls High School Ecology Club president was presented with the Maraziti, Falcon and Healey Environmental Excellence Scholarship.
• Christine Farias: The Fairleigh-Dickinson University student urged the university to begin a campus-wide recycling program.