back-to-top
x
close

Tag: what NJ nonprofits accept surplus food?

TRENTON – The Sherrill Administration today recognized six businesses and organizations for their recycling efforts during the annual DEP Recycling Awards program.

The awards ceremony at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe was held in conjunction with the annual recycling symposium hosted by the Association of New Jersey Recyclers (ANJR). The recycling leaders were honored for their creative solutions that reduce waste generation, recycle and enhance sustainability in their communities.

“Recycling helps conserve resources, reduces waste, promotes sustainability and protects public health – and makes economic sense by creating jobs, avoiding disposal costs and saving energy,” Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Ed Potosnak said. “I commend these award winners for their outstanding work in their communities and for serving as roles models for all of us to follow.”

In 1987, New Jersey became the first state to enact legislation that requires recycling in residential, commercial and institutional settings. In 2023, New Jersey achieved an overall recycling rate of 53%, and continues to promote recycling through numerous grant and educational programs, including informing residents on recycling best practices in their communities.

“We applaud the award winners for their accomplishments and dedication to recycling, waste reduction and protecting the environment,” said Paul Baldauf, DEP’s Assistant Commissioner for Air Quality, Energy and Sustainability. “We are confident that the impressive achievements of our recycling award winners will inspire others.”

The 2026 DEP Recycling Award winners are as follows:

Government

City of Hoboken: Hoboken established one of New Jersey’s first municipal residential composting programs, starting in 2015 with a community compost company partnership. The city has continued to build upon its success. In 2025, the city diverted 265,560 pounds of food scraps from landfills through its residential drop-off, curbside residential and commercial composting programs.

Recycling Industry

Commercial Solar Panel Recycling Inc., Phillipsburg: Commercial Solar Panel Recycling Inc. is New Jersey’s first and only dedicated solar panel recycling center, processing two solar panels per minute and recovering aluminum frames, electronics and panel glass that are recycled into new products. The company has kept almost 20,000 solar panels out of the waste stream and recycled 245,000 pounds of glass, 36,000 pounds of aluminum and 1,500 pounds of junction boxes and wiring.

Leadership

Table to Table, Saddle Brook: Table to Table is a community-based nonprofit that reuses fresh, nutritious, surplus perishable food that would otherwise be wasted and delivers it free to organizations serving the hungry in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris and Passaic counties. In 2025, Table to Table collected more than 25 million pounds of surplus food.

Rising Star

Torus, West Windsor: Torus is a youth-founded, student-led non-profit organization that implemented a free food-waste curbside collection program. In 2025, Torus served more than 1,000 households and businesses in 19 municipalities, diverting more than 150,000 pounds of food waste from solid waste facilities.

Business

ECOS (Earth Friendly Products), Parsippany: ECOS (Earth Friendly Products), a manufacturer of household and commercial green cleaning products, reduces and reuses items while recycling mandated and non-traditional items. These sustainable practices enabled the facility to divert 99.3% of its manufacturing and office waste from disposal facilities, reducing disposal costs by more than $273,000 in 2025.

Waste Reduction, Resource Management/Sustainability

Roxbury Township, Roxbury Public Library and the Lake Hopatcong Foundation: The Roxbury Community Repair Café, a collaborative initiative between Roxbury Township, the Roxbury Public Library and the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, is a free community event that utilizes skilled volunteers to repair household items, helping extend the life of products and diverting them from the waste stream.

Recycling Takes Everyone

The DEP urges all residents, businesses and institutions to participate in their local recycling program and do their part to keep non-acceptable materials, such as plastic bags, trash, propane tanks and used syringes out of curbside and workplace recycling bins. Recycling programs vary by town, so it’s important to check up-to-date policies.

Manufacturers require clean, contaminant-free recyclable feedstocks to make new recycled content products and thus cannot accept loads of recyclable materials that are contaminated with non-acceptable items.

The recycling industry continues to face the challenge of contamination of the recycling stream caused by incorrect materials being recycled, limiting the economic benefits of recycling. Many recycling companies reject loads of recyclables that include non-recyclable items. When in doubt, throw it out.

Recycling keeps millions of tons of material out of disposal facilities, conserves natural resources, saves energy, and reduces water and air pollution, including greenhouse gas generation.

Recycling Resources

To learn more about recycling policies and practices to help keep our environment cleaner, visit DEP’s Recycling webpage.

Visit the Association of New Jersey Recyclers at anjr.com.

About Table to Table

Table to Table (http://www.tabletotable.org) is New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, bridging the gap between food being wasted and people facing food insecurity. We work with food businesses of all types to rescue fresh, nutritious surplus food, and deliver it for free to 300+ social service organizations, pantries, shelters, community produce markets and centralized distribution hubs. Through our community partnerships, Table to Table reaches families, children, veterans, older adults, and others in need, improving food security, nutritional access, and better health. Since 1999 we have rescued more than 133,271 tons of nutritious food — enough for 266,452,863 meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, while also saving over 544 metric tons of methane from impacting climate change by preventing food waste.

There were many impressive achievements in the field of recycling and waste reduction in New Jersey this past year. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection recognizes these accomplishments through its annual Recycling Awards program. The 2026 DEP recycling award winners are:

Leadership: Table to Table

Table to Table, a nonprofit organization located in Saddle Brook, is a community-based food rescue program that collects fresh, nutritious, surplus perishable food that would otherwise be wasted and delivers it free to organizations serving the hungry in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, and Passaic counties.

This program not only addresses hunger in New Jersey, but also diverts wasted food from landfills, which, in turn, reduces greenhouse gas generation. In 2025, Table to Table diverted and rescued more than 25 million pounds of surplus food from numerous sources.

About Table to Table

Table to Table (http://www.tabletotable.org) is New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, bridging the gap between food being wasted and people facing food insecurity. We work with food businesses of all types to rescue fresh, nutritious surplus food, and deliver it for free to 300+ social service organizations, pantries, shelters, community produce markets and centralized distribution hubs. Through our community partnerships, Table to Table reaches families, children, veterans, older adults, and others in need, improving food security, nutritional access, and better health. Since 1999 we have rescued more than 133,271 tons of nutritious food — enough for 266,452,863 meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, while also saving over 544 metric tons of methane from impacting climate change by preventing food waste.

TRENTON, NJ – The Sherrill Administration today recognized Table to Table, along with five other businesses and organizations, for our recycling efforts at the annual DEP Recycling Awards program.

The recycling leaders were honored for their creative solutions that reduce waste generation, recycle and enhance sustainability in their communities. Table to Table received the Leadership Award.

“Table to Table is a community-based nonprofit that reuses fresh, nutritious, surplus perishable food that would otherwise be wasted and delivers it free to organizations serving the hungry in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris and Passaic counties,” NJDEP said in a statement. “In 2025, Table to Table collected more than 25 million pounds of surplus food.”

The awards ceremony at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe was held in conjunction with the annual recycling symposium hosted by the Association of New Jersey Recyclers.

“We applaud the award winners for their accomplishments and dedication to recycling, waste reduction and protecting the environment,” said Paul Baldauf, DEP’s Assistant Commissioner for Air Quality, Energy and Sustainability. “We are confident that the impressive achievements of our recycling award winners will inspire others.”

The other awardees were: The City of Hoboken, Commercial Solar Panel Recycling Inc., Torus, ECOS (Earth Friendly Products), and Roxbury Township, the Roxbury Public Library, & the Lake Hopatcong Foundation.

About Table to Table

Table to Table (http://www.tabletotable.org) is New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, bridging the gap between food being wasted and people facing food insecurity. We work with food businesses of all types to rescue fresh, nutritious surplus food, and deliver it for free to 300+ social service organizations, pantries, shelters, community produce markets and centralized distribution hubs. Through our community partnerships, Table to Table reaches families, children, veterans, older adults, and others in need, improving food security, nutritional access, and better health. Since 1999 we have rescued more than 133,271 tons of nutritious food — enough for 266,452,863 meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, while also saving over 544 metric tons of methane from impacting climate change by preventing food waste.

James Beard Award winner, who relied on free school lunch as a kid in Bronx, told donors why food rescue matters to him.

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on binje.com. Click here to read the complete story.

The numbers on hunger in New Jersey are startling. More than 1.2 million people in the state don’t have enough to eat, according to Table to Table.

It’s why organizations such as Table to Table matter.

At Table to Table’s Chefs Gala, Kwame Onwuachi, one of the most accomplished chefs in the country, spoke about growing up in Bronx. When his mother fell on hard times, they went to public schools in the summer for free lunch, something his mother was embarrassed about. He wasn’t, however.

That’s why he was eager to serve as honoree.

“It means so much to me to be a part of something like this,” Onwuachi said to the more than 300 guests at The Rockleigh. “I think the beautiful thing about Table to Table, is that they’re just trying to feed people at the end of the day.”

Table to Table is New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, bridging the gap between food being wasted and people facing food insecurity. We bring rescued fresh, nutritious food to 276 community partners, including social service organizations, pantries, shelters, fresh produce markets and centralized distribution hubs. Food is provided free of charge. Through this, Table to Table touches a diversity of those in need, including families, children, veterans, and older adults, making good nutrition accessible while serving as a stimulus for other longer-term benefits. Since 1999 we have rescued more than 133,271 tons of nutritious food — enough for 266,542,863 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

Chef Kwame Onwuachi wearing glasses and a dark suit standing at a white lectern featuring the "Table to Table" logo, speaking into a microphone with his right hand extended. In the background is a large screen displaying the word "Honoree" and elegant indoor wall sconce lighting.

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on binje.com. Click here to read the complete story.

Table to Table, New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue organization, celebrated a milestone night at its 2026 Chefs Gala presented by American Express, raising more than $600,000 to fuel its hunger-relief mission and expansion.

The gourmet event, held Oct. 15, drew over 300 guests and featured James Beard Award-winning chef, restaurateur, and author Kwame Onwuachi as the Chef Honoree. Onwuachi joined forces with more than 30 of the region’s top chefs, craft brewers, winemakers, mixologists, and distillers — alongside Chef Co-Chairs Jamie Knott and Ryan DePersio — to deliver an unforgettable culinary experience in support of food rescue.

During the gala’s program, Executive Director Heather Thompson delivered major news to supporters: after 27 years of operation, the nonprofit will officially relocate its headquarters to a new facility in Englewood within the coming months. The new headquarters features a dedicated warehouse equipped with two full-sized loading docks, space for volunteer food packing events, and a massive expansion in cold storage capabilities. The upgraded infrastructure will allow Table to Table to store up to 150 pallets of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and dairy.

Table to Table is New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, bridging the gap between food being wasted and people facing food insecurity. We bring rescued fresh, nutritious food to 276 community partners, including social service organizations, pantries, shelters, fresh produce markets and centralized distribution hubs. Food is provided free of charge. Through this, Table to Table touches a diversity of those in need, including families, children, veterans, and older adults, making good nutrition accessible while serving as a stimulus for other longer-term benefits. Since 1999 we have rescued more than 133,271 tons of nutritious food — enough for 266,542,863 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on newjerseyhills.com. Click here to read the entire article.

Livingston’s Ilene Isaacs will be welcomed to the Founder’s Table during Table to Table’s upcoming gala.

Table to Table, New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue organization, will celebrate its 2026 Chefs Gala Thursday, Oct. 15 at The Rockleigh.

The Founder’s Table was established in 2023 by Table to Table’s Founder Claire Insalata Poulos to recognize individuals, companies, and foundations that have provided extraordinary support to the nonprofit over its 27-year history.

Nothing brought me greater joy and pride a few years into Table to Table’s Bag a Lunch, Help a Bunch initiative then to have the Livingston Public Schools participate, with Harrison Elementary the top earner in all of Essex, Bergen, Hudson and Passaic counties – and the winner of The Bernard and Geraldine Segal Foundation Award for Student Philanthropy.

Table to Table is New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, bridging the gap between food being wasted and people facing food insecurity. We bring rescued fresh, nutritious food to 276 community partners, including social service organizations, pantries, shelters, fresh produce markets and centralized distribution hubs. Food is provided free of charge. Through this, Table to Table touches a diversity of those in need, including families, children, veterans, and older adults, making good nutrition accessible while serving as a stimulus for other longer-term benefits. Since 1999 we have rescued more than 133,271 tons of nutritious food — enough for 266,542,863 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on binje.com. Click here to read the complete story.

Table to Table, New Jersey’s premier and largest food rescue organization, has announced that James Beard Award-winning chef, restaurateur, and author Kwame Onwuachi will serve as the official honoree for its upcoming 2026 Chefs Gala.
Presented by American Express, the signature fundraising event will take place on Oct. 15, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Moving to a new, larger venue due to overwhelming popular demand, this year’s gala will be hosted at The Rockleigh in Rockleigh.
Departing from a traditional banquet format, the Chefs Gala brings together nearly 40 of the region’s top culinary talents. Participating chefs will personally prepare and serve multi-course signature menus tableside for attendees, paired with fine wines, live auctions, and networking.
All proceeds directly support Table to Table’s mission of rescuing nutritious food, reducing food waste, and reliving hunger in northern New Jersey.

Table to Table is New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, bridging the gap between food being wasted and people facing food insecurity. We bring rescued fresh, nutritious food to 276 community partners, including social service organizations, pantries, shelters, fresh produce markets and centralized distribution hubs. Food is provided free of charge. Through this, Table to Table touches a diversity of those in need, including families, children, veterans, and older adults, making good nutrition accessible while serving as a stimulus for other longer-term benefits. Since 1999 we have rescued more than 133,271 tons of nutritious food — enough for 266,542,863 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

Fighting hunger while reducing food waste

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on ROI-NJ.com. Click here to read the complete story.

Launched in 1999 by founder Claire Insalata Poulos with four food donors, one donated van designed to transport fresh food and one driver, Table to Table has earned well-deserved recognition as New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue organization.

Twenty-seven years ago, Poulos and her small group of supporters decided there had to be a way to move surplus food to communities where it would fill an essential need.

Armed with passion and fierce determination, they created an organization made up of staff members and volunteers who work across five New Jersey counties: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, and Passaic.

The organization moved more than 25 million pounds of food last year. About 80% of it was perishable, and 60% was fresh produce. Volunteers alone were responsible for moving more than 2.3 million pounds of food using their I-Rescue App.

We’ve also developed relationships with individuals like Marshall Crane of HMS Host and companies like Avolta, which has allowed us to rescue thousands of pounds of ready-to-eat wraps, salads, and healthy bites from Newark Liberty International Airport.

Table to Table is New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, bridging the gap between food being wasted and people facing food insecurity. We bring rescued fresh, nutritious food to 276 community partners, including social service organizations, pantries, shelters, fresh produce markets and centralized distribution hubs. Food is provided free of charge. Through this, Table to Table touches a diversity of those in need, including families, children, veterans, and older adults, making good nutrition accessible while serving as a stimulus for other longer-term benefits. Since 1999 we have rescued more than 133,271 tons of nutritious food — enough for 266,542,863 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

Three people smiling indoors next to a table overflowing with bags of groceries, including fresh fruit like apples and oranges, as well as packaged snacks, representing a food distribution or donation effort.

Editor’s note: This article has been aggregated from binje.com. To read the complete article, click here.

The Partners for Health Foundation has awarded a two-year, $120,000 grant to Table to Table, New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit. The funding reinvests in Table to Table’s 27-year mission to reduce environmental food waste while directly addressing health inequities and hunger across northern New Jersey.

The grant arrives at a critical juncture for the region. State food systems are currently bracing for heightened demand due to recent SNAP policy changes and eligibility disruptions, which experts warm will significantly spike food insecurity.

“We are incredibly grateful for this generous grant, which is helping Table to Table advance our mission of keeping perfectly good food out of landfills while providing nourishment to children, families, seniors, and veterans facing food insecurity,” said Heather Thompson, executive director of Table to Table. “The foundation’s continued partnership has further fortified our food rescue efforts, allowing us to deepen our impact by growing our network of food donors, community partners, and volunteers.”

Table to Table is New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, bridging the gap between food being wasted and people facing food insecurity. We bring rescued fresh, nutritious food to 276 community partners, including social service organizations, pantries, shelters, fresh produce markets and centralized distribution hubs. Food is provided free of charge. Through this, Table to Table touches a diversity of those in need, including families, children, veterans, and older adults, making good nutrition accessible while serving as a stimulus for other longer-term benefits. Since 1999 we have rescued more than 133,271 tons of nutritious food — enough for 266,542,863 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

Editor’s note: Feeding Hope: The “Ride to Independence” podcast interviewed Table to Table’s Executive Director Heather Thompson, who spoke about our mission and our Kick Hunger Out of NJ Tour during the FIFA World Cup.

Table to Table, New Jersey’s first food rescue organization, is feeding hope. It has been combating food waste and hunger since 1999.

Executive Director Heather Thompson shares how the organization collects fresh food from local businesses and events, like the FIFA World Cup, to feed the community. Their Kick Hunger out of New Jersey tour shows how large events can contribute to food security by rescuing surplus food. By collaborating with a wide network of pantries and shelters, Table to Table ensures that delicious, nutritious meals reach those in need without delay, proving that the solution lies in better distribution rather than more food production.

Table to Table is New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, bridging the gap between food being wasted and people facing food insecurity. We bring rescued fresh, nutritious food to 276 community partners, including social service organizations, pantries, shelters, fresh produce markets and centralized distribution hubs. Food is provided free of charge. Through this, Table to Table touches a diversity of those in need, including families, children, veterans, and older adults, making good nutrition accessible while serving as a stimulus for other longer-term benefits. Since 1999 we have rescued more than 133,271 tons of nutritious food — enough for 266,542,863 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

© 2026 TableToTable - All rights reserved. Table to Table is a 501(c)(3) organization, Tax ID 22-3646125

Privacy Policy