Directs DEP to select consultant to perform Statewide needs assessment regarding recycling of packaging products; establishes "Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment Advisory Council" in DEP; appropriates $500,000.

This bill directs New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to conduct a statewide assessment of packaging recycling, composting, and reuse systems by hiring a consultant and establishing a temporary advisory council. It appropriates $500,000 to fund the assessment, which must examine current recycling rates, infrastructure needs, environmental justice considerations, and strategies to achieve optimal recycling rates by 2035 for materials like paper, plastic, glass, and metal. The DEP will select a consultant by January 2026, with the consultant submitting a draft assessment to the advisory council by December 2026. The advisory council, representing diverse stakeholders including haulers, local governments, and environmental organizations, will provide input before the final assessment is submitted to the Governor and Legislature by May 2027. The final report will include recommendations for improving New Jersey's packaging recycling system.