This bill requires all New Jersey state government buildings - including offices, agencies, and state universities - to separate and recycle specific materials like aluminum, cardboard, glass, paper, and plastic waste. State entities must provide recycling bins, signage, and education for both employees and the public, and arrange for collection and transportation of recyclables through licensed vendors. The rule does not apply to state parks or forests using a "carry-in, carry-out" trash program. The Department of the Treasury will create compliance guidance and coordinate with courts and the legislature to ensure all state branches follow the requirements.
This bill directs New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to hire a consultant to conduct a statewide assessment of recycling, composting, and reuse conditions for packaging products. It establishes a "Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment Advisory Council" within the DEP and appropriates $500,000 for the assessment. The study will evaluate current packaging recycling rates, collection systems (including curbside and drop-off), waste disposal data, and infrastructure gaps across covered entities like schools, government facilities, and residential buildings. The findings will help identify needs and gaps in the state's packaging recycling system.
This bill requires scrap processing facilities that handle automotive shredder residue (ASR) - the non-recyclable material left after shredding cars and metal scrap - to obtain a permit from New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). It explicitly defines ASR as "hazardous waste," meaning facilities must follow DEP-set limits on storage volume, height, and duration, and cannot store ASR near homes or critical infrastructure. The law amends existing waste management statutes to include these requirements and mandates the DEP to create rules for implementation. It directly affects scrap processing facilities statewide that currently handle ASR without permitting.
This bill sets statewide targets to reduce organic waste sent to landfills: a 50% reduction from 2016 levels by 2027 and a 75% reduction by 2032. It requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create regulations within 18 months to achieve these goals, which may mandate local governments to set waste-reduction rules for businesses and impose reasonable penalties for noncompliance. The regulations must also ensure at least 20% of recoverable edible food is redirected from disposal by 2035. Local governments may charge fees to cover costs of implementing these rules, and the DEP must report progress by July 2027.
This bill, the "Architectural Paint Stewardship Act," requires paint producers (manufacturers selling interior or exterior paint in 5-gallon containers or smaller) to create or join a statewide program for managing leftover paint after consumer use. The program must establish convenient collection sites (ensuring 90% of residents have access within 15 miles), prioritize reuse and recycling over disposal, and cover costs for collection, transportation, and processing. It shifts responsibility for paint waste management from local governments and taxpayers to paint producers, aiming to reduce disposal costs and environmental impact. The law applies specifically to architectural paint, excluding industrial or specialty coatings.
This bill requires electric power suppliers to offer net metering to authorized food waste recycling facilities for electricity they generate using Class I renewable energy. It directly affects facilities defined as Class C recycling centers authorized to handle food waste under state law. Key provisions include crediting facilities for excess electricity generated (with annual rollover), and offering two compensation options: payment for remaining credits or real-time billing at a set rate ($0.03/kWh above residential tariff). The bill clarifies these facilities won't be considered public utilities when selling excess power to end-use customers within their service area.
S 637 requires owners and operators of certain sanitary landfills (those authorized to accept solid waste for final disposal or closing after the law takes effect) to control and monitor methane emissions. Key provisions include installing and operating a landfill gas collection system meeting specific standards, conducting quarterly methane surface monitoring, and ensuring emissions stay below 500 parts per million at any single point or 25 parts per million on average across the facility. Owners must also submit annual methane generation estimates and maintain records for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The law takes effect 24 months after enactment, with penalties for violations including fines up to $50,000 per day.
S 663 requires New Jersey's solid waste management districts (including counties and the Hackensack Meadowlands District) to create a plan reducing food waste by 50% by 2035 compared to 2022 levels. Districts must add this plan to their solid waste management strategy for approval by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The DEP must also publish practical methods for achieving this goal, such as increasing food donations and composting, and establish a tiered regulatory system for composting facilities to support organic waste recycling.
This bill creates a "Bear Smart Fund" within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to finance the distribution of bear-proof garbage cans. The fund will be supported by civil penalties from existing bear-feeding violations, state/federal appropriations, and investment earnings. The DEP will prioritize distributing these cans in counties with high bear populations - Sussex, Warren, Morris, and Passaic - to reduce human-bear conflicts, potentially charging residents a small fee or partnering with local governments for cost efficiency. The bill also updates the state's bear-feeding law to clarify prohibited actions (like leaving food accessible to bears) and directs penalty collections into the new fund.
This bill requires producers of packaging and paper products sold in New Jersey to implement environmentally sound management plans for their products. It creates a system where producers must join or form Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) to manage the end-of-life disposal of covered products through recycling, composting, or reuse - excluding landfilling and certain energy recovery methods. Key provisions include defining "covered products" (like food containers, bags, and beverage packaging), setting recycling rate targets, and mandating that PROs ensure compliance with environmental standards, particularly in overburdened communities. The law shifts responsibility for waste management from municipalities to producers, aiming to reduce landfill waste and promote sustainable product lifecycle practices.
