Special Awards
Established in 2009, the Sustainable Jersey Annual Awards support and recognize the municipalities and leaders who have demonstrated sustainability excellence.
Rookie of the Year Award
This award recognizes a newly certified municipality that effectively leveraged a wide range of resources to achieve success. View all previous recipients here.
2025 Recipient: Middlesex Borough (Middlesex County)
Creativity & Innovation Award
This award recognizes forward-thinking municipalities that support a culture of creativity and innovation as they implement new approaches to solving problems. View all previous recipients here.
This award honors municipalities that embrace creativity and innovation to address community challenges. In Downe Township, the green team’s “Turtle Patrol” protects endangered Diamondback Terrapins through volunteer assistance, public education, and “Turtle Crossing” signage. They also collect data that supports future conservation efforts in partnership with the NJDEP. Their work has saved 385 terrapins, showing how community-driven innovation can make a real impact on local wildlife and the environment.
2025 Recipient: Downe Township (Cumberland County)
Collaboration Award
This award recognizes green teams that have advanced sustainability by building strong partnerships. View all previous recipients here.
Fair Haven Borough in Monmouth County is the recipient of the 2025 Sustainable Jersey Collaboration Award. The Council, Green Team, Creative Team, Historic Association, Business Association, and local artists have partnered to create community-wide events that celebrate the borough’s cultural and historic richness. Their Estuary Art events, including the Estuary Art Walk, highlight local artists, support downtown businesses, and have helped shape updates to Fair Haven’s Master Plan, reinforcing the community’s commitment to its history, culture, and creativity.
2025 Recipient: Fair Haven Borough (Monmouth County)
