Anthony Woo launched Torus in 2024 to address dining hall scrap disposal, initially recruiting community participants door-to-door after obtaining initial grant support. The operation now supplies doorstep collection buckets to more than 1,000 area households and businesses, sending the gathered waste directly to Trenton Renewables. Backed by over $75,000 from donors and major corporations like Google and Walmart, participants track their environmental impact through an integrated merit system.
Key points
The curbside collection initiative has reduced regional greenhouse gas emissions by over…: The curbside collection initiative has reduced regional greenhouse gas emissions by over 1,140,000 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection recognized Torus with a Rising Star…: The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection recognized Torus with a Rising Star Award in 2026.
Anthony Woo earned national accolades before adulthood, including being named a 2025 runn…: Anthony Woo earned national accolades before adulthood, including being named a 2025 runner-up for the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes at 17.
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Free curbside composting in New Jersey has diverted more than 300,000 pounds of food waste from landfills through Torus, a youth-led nonprofit co-founded by Anthony Woo. Torus says it serves more than 1,000 households and local businesses, collecting food scraps from the curb every other week at no cost to participants. Anthony was 17 when the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes named him a 2025 runner-up for co-founding the free service. Based in West Windsor, the student-led nonprofit says composting through its service has so far reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 1,140,000 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Why Anthony Woo started a free composting service after seeing food thrown away in dining halls
According to the Barron Prize and Torus, Anthony began his work after seeing uneaten food repeatedly dumped into trash bins in dining halls. He pitched the idea of a free curbside composting service for households and businesses to several friends, who jumped on board. Once the group had secured initial grant funding, he went door to door urging people to compost. He collected plenty…
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