Environment (Recycling) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1860: Requires certain recycling centers to report information about recycling markets and contamination to DEP.

This bill requires recycling centers that process glass, plastic, cardboard, or paper to annually report specific data to New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) by December 31. Centers must provide information on the availability, location, and cost of markets for recycled materials, as well as details about contamination in the recycling stream. The DEP must keep any information deemed a trade secret or competitive business method confidential upon request from the recycling center. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Recycling

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 2, 2026

S 3280: Repeals law prohibiting sale or distribution of single-use plastic carryout bags, single-use paper carryout bags, polystyrene foam food service products, and single-use plastic straws.

S 3280 repeals New Jersey's current law that prohibits the sale or distribution of single-use plastic carryout bags, single-use paper carryout bags, polystyrene foam food service products, and single-use plastic straws. If enacted, it would allow retailers, restaurants, and other businesses to sell these items again, directly affecting both businesses that previously had to comply with the ban and consumers who use these products. The repeal removes existing restrictions without creating new requirements or funding mechanisms. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✗ Environment

Sub-Topics Recycling

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 2, 2026

S 3256: Eliminates prohibition on provision of single-use paper and plastic carryout bags by grocery stores for delivery, pick-up or curbside pickup orders.

This bill (S 3256) removes a ban on grocery stores providing single-use paper or plastic carryout bags specifically for delivery, pick-up, or curbside pickup orders. It directly affects grocery stores (defined as self-service retail establishments over 2,500 sq. ft. selling food for off-site consumption) when handling these order types. The key mechanism is amending the existing law to add a new exemption in the definition of "carryout bag," explicitly allowing these bags for delivery/pickup orders while maintaining bans for other in-store purchases. The change follows findings that single-use paper bags use similar resources to plastic, and aims to align with New Jersey's broader plastic reduction goals.

Topics ✗ Environment

Sub-Topics Recycling

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 2, 2026

S 3281: Repeals law that prohibits certain establishments from providing or selling various single-use products to customers.

S 3281 repeals a law (P.L.2020, c.117) that prohibited certain businesses from selling or providing single-use products like plastic bags or straws. This bill directly affects retailers, restaurants, and other establishments previously restricted from offering these items. The repeal removes the legal ban, allowing those businesses to resume selling single-use products without penalty. No new funding or programs are created; the bill solely eliminates the existing prohibition. The bill's text confirms it repeals sections 1-9 of P.L.2020, c.117, which contained the single-use product restrictions.

Topics ✗ Environment

Sub-Topics Recycling

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 16, 2026

A 3383: Requires paint producers to implement or participate in paint stewardship program.

New Jersey's bill A 3383, the "Architectural Paint Stewardship Act," requires paint producers (manufacturers selling interior/exterior architectural paint in 5-gallon containers or smaller) to create or join a paint stewardship program. The program must collect, reuse, recycle, or responsibly dispose of leftover paint from consumers (post-consumer paint), eliminating costs for local governments. Key mechanisms include producers funding the program through a fee added to paint prices, establishing statewide collection sites (ensuring 90% of residents are within 15 miles of a site), and prioritizing reuse/recycling per federal waste management guidelines. This directly affects paint producers and retailers, shifting disposal responsibility from municipalities to the industry.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Recycling Waste Management

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2032: Establishes "Electric Vehicle Battery Repurposing Fund" to support repurposing, remanufacturing, and recycling of electric vehicle batteries; dedicates amounts based on certain sales of electric vehicles.

This bill creates a dedicated "Electric Vehicle Battery Repurposing Fund" in New Jersey's General Fund, funded by $500 for every retail sale of an electric vehicle in the state during the prior fiscal year. The fund supports environmentally safe repurposing (using used batteries for stationary storage like home energy systems), remanufacturing (restoring batteries to original condition), and recycling of electric vehicle batteries. It directly affects electric vehicle owners through the sales-based funding mechanism and battery management companies implementing these processes. The bill requires the Division of Taxation to track EV sales to calculate annual fund contributions, with the fund's money exclusively used for these battery management activities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics State Budget Electric Vehicles Energy Storage Recycling

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 594: Requires continuing identification and remediation of waste tire sites.

This bill (A-594) requires anyone responsible for waste tire accumulation at a site to remove and properly dispose of tires to comply with environmental laws. It directs New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to establish a recurring process for identifying illegal tire sites, including annual inspections of junkyards and previously remediated areas, plus public and local government input. The department must issue annual reports on program progress, cleanup efforts, and costs, and may impose liens on properties with unremediated sites to recover cleanup expenses. The bill directly affects property owners and businesses accumulating waste tires, with enforcement focused on preventing environmental hazards like water contamination and mosquito breeding.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Recycling Water Quality

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1876: Revises provisions of "Dry Cell Battery Management Act."

This bill updates New Jersey's rules for disposing of certain batteries by clarifying which types require special handling. It affects retailers selling batteries, distributors, large facilities (like hospitals or labs) that use many batteries, and consumers. The key change defines "covered batteries" to include most portable and medium-sized rechargeable batteries while excluding vehicle batteries, medical devices, and recalled batteries. These updated definitions will determine who must follow proper disposal and recycling requirements under the law.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Recycling

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3552: Prohibits sale, distribution, and import of certain products marketed as recyclable, unless DEP determines that products are widely recycled.

New Jersey bill A3552 prohibits selling, distributing, or importing products with deceptive "recyclable" claims (like the chasing arrows symbol) unless the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) confirms they are actually recyclable in the state. It requires the DEP to conduct a material characterization study by 2024 to define which products/packaging are recyclable based on two criteria: 60% of NJ households collect them curbside, and 60% of recycling facilities process them into new materials. The law directly affects manufacturers and retailers selling products with recycling claims in New Jersey. It is pending before the Assembly Environment Committee and not yet law.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Recycling

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 8, 2026

A 2406: Requires DEP to regulate scrap metal facilities as recycling facilities.

This bill would require New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to regulate scrap metal processing facilities under the same rules that apply to recycling centers. It defines "scrap processing facility" as a commercial operation handling metal for resale and mandates that the DEP oversee these facilities as if they were recycling centers, despite the current definition excluding them from that category. This change would directly affect scrap metal businesses by subjecting them to identical environmental and operational standards as recycling centers. The bill amends existing law to extend the DEP's regulatory framework for recycling centers to cover scrap metal processing activities.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Recycling

All environment bills