Top NJ Municipalities Recognized with Sustainability Awards

Today, Sustainable Jersey announced the recipients of the 2022 Sustainable Jersey municipal awards and the 81 towns that have achieved certification. A capacity crowd filled the Crown Ballroom at the Sheraton Hotel in Atlantic City to celebrate the year's 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 2022 award descriptions and recipient quotes: Sustainable Jersey Annual Award Descriptions and Recipient Quotes.

The 2022 Sustainable Jersey Annual Award recipients are:

Sustainability Champion (Large)

Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County with 1,245 points

Sustainability Champion (Medium)

Madison Borough, Morris County with 835 points

Sustainability Champion (Small)

Bordentown City, Burlington County with 615 points

Mayor Art Ondish Leadership Award

The Honorable Lisa Jiampetti, Mayor of Egg Harbor City, Atlantic County

Creativity & Innovation Award

City of Trenton, Mercer County

Rookie of the Year Award

Borough of Wildwood Crest, Cape May County

Collaboration Award

Howell Township, Monmouth County

Gold Star Recipients

Woodbridge Township (Middlesex County): Gold Star in Water and Gold Star in Health

Readington Township (Hunterdon County): Gold Star in Water

Princeton (Mercer County): Gold Star in Health

Sustainable Jersey Certified Towns (2022)

48 Bronze and 33 Silver Certified Towns: Review the list of the 2022 Sustainable Jersey Certified Municipalities.

“The Sustainable Jersey annual awards are a chance for us to applaud the municipalities that are demonstrating sustainability excellence and celebrate what they have accomplished,” said Randall Solomon, director of Sustainable Jersey. “As New Jersey faces issues such as the climate crisis, a growing equity divide and environmental pollution, these award winners and certified towns exemplify the commitment we need to accelerate the transition to a sustainable New Jersey.”

Eighty-one towns have achieved Sustainable Jersey certification so far in the 2022 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. This application cycle, 33 towns achieved certification at the more advanced silver-level to make a total of 69 towns that are silver-certified in the program. Silver-level certification requires that a town meet a minimum of 350 points. Currently 221 towns are certified and Sustainable Jersey's 465 participating communities represent nearly 82% of the state's municipalities. The Sustainable Jersey Annual Luncheon is held during the New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference.