The Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority, which provides drinking water to Morris County

municipalities and oversees county programs for solid and hazardous waste disposal, and recycling, celebrated environmental excellence during its award ceremony that heralded a variety of green efforts from e-recycling and food waste recycling to roadside trash collection, water quality improvement, and one business’ trash audit.

The awards were presented on May 20 at a ceremony at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township.

“The award recipients represent outstanding efforts that produce environmental benefits and provide excellent examples for others to follow,” said Kathleen Hourihan, Morris County District Recycling coordinator.

“We are extremely proud of our residents who have worked so hard to make our community better, with a series of remarkable environmental efforts that cut across a wide-spectrum of our

society, from students to teachers and disabled residents to our

businesses community,’’ said Freeholder Christine Myers,

who is the county governing board’s liaison to the MUA.   

Of those awarded, the following are the recipients from the local coverage area.

The Raritan Headwaters Association, which works to protect, preserve and improve water quality and other natural resources of the Raritan River headwaters region

through science, education, advocacy, and land preservation received the “Clean Water Stewardship” award.

Green Vision, Inc., in Randolph is organized to give students and adults with

developmental disabilities the opportunity to learn and work in real life job situations through a Reverse

Supply Chain, with a focus on electronics recycling. Tim Butler, President, has worked in the field of

autism since 1999. After teaching in the classroom, and starting three successful vocational programs, he founded Green Vision in 2005.

Frank Cappuccio of Morris Hills High School received “The Power of Green – Living,

Leading, Teaching” award for being an exceptional educator and head of the school’s Environment

Action Club. He has led many weekend and after school clean-up programs where tons of illegally

dumped trash was collected and then properly disposed.

Sarah Jane Noll, Chester Township’s Municipal Recycling coordinator, received recognition

as a “Stellar Recycling Coordinator” for increasing recycling opportunities for residents, disseminating

educational information, and actively enforcing mandated recycling requirements. Noll also was

singled out for not being afraid to get her boots dirty as she did when investigating illegally dumped

waste at a local horse riding academy.

The Director of Chartwells’ Dining Services, Holly Tighe, was honored for her work at the

County College of Morris in Randolph. Through her guidance, her associates are given tools, perspective, and ownership to track and trim waste. She has reduced costs and the carbon footprint of disposal by

measuring food waste to see what type of garbage is being taken from the kitchen. By doing that she has enhanced sustainability and improved efficiency at the college’s dining room.

Grace Faulkner, a senior at the Morris County School of Technology, will receive the

Maraziti, Falcon Environmental Excellence Scholarship for her qualifications and passion for the

environment. This prestigious award has been issued annually by the law firm of Maraziti, Falcon, LLP,

Livingston.

Slam Dunk the Junk Poster Contest Winners include Cristian van Rossen, Mt. Arlington Public School; Veronika Hammond and Jolie Chow of Morris Hills High School; and Kate Rivera of Morris Knolls High School.

For more on the Morris County MUA and its recycling, vegetative and hazardous waste, and water quality efforts, visit: https://www.mcmua.com/.