Teenage co-founder Anthony Woo leads Torus composting service in New Jersey
The youth-led nonprofit has diverted over 300,000 pounds of food waste from landfills through free curbside collection.
The student-led nonprofit Torus has diverted more than 300,000 pounds of food waste from landfills in New Jersey, according to a Times of India report. Co-founded by Anthony Woo, the service provides free curbside composting to more than 1,000 households and local businesses by collecting food scraps every other week.
Based in West Windsor, the organisation says its composting efforts have lowered greenhouse gas emissions by over 1,140,000 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent. Woo started the initiative after observing food being discarded in dining halls. After securing grant funding, he began door-to-door recruitment to build the service.
Participants receive a compost bucket at their doorstep and leave full buckets at the curb for collection. Drivers then transport the waste to Trenton Renewables, which converts the material into renewable energy. The group also conducts workshops and partners with town governments.
By September 2025, Torus had raised more than $75,000 from various supporters, including Google and Walmart. The service has also received recognition from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, which presented a Rising Star Award on October 28, 2026.
Anthony S. Verrelli, executive director of the Mercer County Improvement Authority, stated that the authority commends Torus for its leadership and grassroots expertise. The nonprofit was also a finalist in the 2026 Emerging Composter Challenge.