Environment (Waste Management)

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.

SJR 18 designates the first week of May each year as "Composting Awareness Week" in New Jersey. The bill requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and residents to observe the week with activities promoting composting. It highlights composting's benefits - such as enriching soil, conserving water (reducing usage by up to 30%), reducing landfill waste (which makes up ~30% of landfill material), and mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon. The resolution is purely symbolic, with no new requirements or funding, and aligns with existing state climate initiatives like Executive Order No. 221.

S 681, the "Electronic Cigarette Extended Producer Responsibility Act," requires e-cigarette manufacturers and distributors in New Jersey to form a producer responsibility organization (PRO) within two years. This PRO must manage the collection, recycling, reuse, and environmentally sound disposal of discarded e-cigarettes, including single-use devices and batteries. The law directly affects e-cigarette producers and distributors by shifting end-of-life waste management costs and responsibilities from local governments and consumers to the industry. Key provisions mandate the PRO to follow environmental standards, maintain financial accountability, and operate under state approval to ensure effective waste handling.

S 644 establishes New Jersey's "Electric Vehicle Battery Repurposing Fund" in the state's General Fund, funded by $500 per retail electric vehicle sale reported annually. The fund supports repurposing (using old EV batteries for stationary storage like home energy systems), remanufacturing (restoring batteries to like-new condition), and recycling of EV batteries in an environmentally safe way. It directly affects electric vehicle owners (through the sales-based funding) and businesses handling battery processing. The bill aims to prevent toxic landfill contamination from batteries containing lithium, cobalt, and graphite as EV adoption grows in the state.

This bill requires all New Jersey state entities (including agencies, universities, and offices) to separate and recycle specific materials - aluminum, corrugated cardboard, glass, paper, and plastic - from waste generated at their owned, leased, or operated buildings. State entities must establish collection procedures, contract with licensed recyclers, and provide accessible recycling bins, signage, and education for both employees and the public. The law excludes state parks/forests using a "carry-in, carry-out" trash program. The Department of Treasury, with the Environmental Protection Department, must create compliance guidance within 180 days and ensure all state branches follow the requirements.