2023 Winners Announced for Top Municipal Sustainability Awards

14 municipalities receive special awards; 60 towns recognized for Sustainable Jersey certification

Today, Sustainable Jersey announced the recipients of the 2023 Annual Awards and recognized the 60 towns that achieved certification in 2023. A capacity crowd filled the Crown Ballroom at the Sheraton Hotel in Atlantic City to celebrate the top municipalities and their work.

Established in 2009, the Sustainable Jersey Annual Awards support and recognize the municipalities and leaders who have demonstrated sustainability excellence. Review the 2023 Sustainable Jersey Annual Award Descriptions and Recipient Quotes.

The 2023 Sustainable Jersey Annual Award recipients are:

Sustainability Champion (Large)

Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County with 1,165 points

Sustainability Champion (Medium)

Madison Borough, Morris County with 915 points

Sustainability Champion (Small)

Borough of Atlantic Highlands, Monmouth County with 355 points

Mayor Art Ondish Leadership Award

The Honorable Ravinder Bhalla, City of Hoboken, Hudson County

Creativity & Innovation Award

Bogota Borough, Fair Lawn Borough, Glen Rock Borough, City of Hackensack, Oakland Borough, Oradell Borough, Village of Ridgefield Park (Bergen County)

Rookie of the Year Award

Borough of Tinton Falls, Monmouth County

Collaboration Award

North Bergen Township, Hudson County

Gold Star Recipient

Maplewood Township (Essex County): Gold Star in Health

Sustainable Jersey Certified Towns (2023)

40 Bronze and 20 Silver Certified Towns: Review the list of the 2023 Sustainable Jersey Certified Municipalities.

“We’re proud to recognize the 2023 award winners and certified towns who have made sustainability an integral part of their municipality,” said Randall Solomon, director of Sustainable Jersey. “Thank you for your leadership, hard work and vision. You exemplify the commitment we need to achieve a sustainable New Jersey.”

Sixty towns achieved Sustainable Jersey certification in the 2023 municipal certification cycle. Each municipality that is certified at the bronze-level must submit documentation to show it has completed a balance of the program’s sustainability actions, meeting a minimum of 150 points. For this application cycle, 20 towns achieved certification at the more advanced silver-level to make a total of 70 towns that are silver-certified in the program. Silver-level certification requires that a town meet a minimum of 350 points. Currently 206 towns are certified and Sustainable Jersey's 466 participating communities represent nearly 83% of the state's municipalities. The Sustainable Jersey Annual Luncheon is held during the New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference.