This bill creates a grant program within the Department of Environmental Protection to fund schools that collect plastic waste for upcycling into new furniture. It allocates $5 million to distribute proportional awards to eligible public and private K-12 schools based on the amount of plastic each school collects. The program will operate as a three-year pilot, allowing schools to purchase desks, chairs, and other furnishings made from recycled school-collected plastics.
This bill directs a portion of New Jersey's constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax revenues to a fund that will provide grants for preventing and addressing harmful algal blooms in the state's lakes and reservoirs. The legislation amends existing laws to establish a revolving fund within the Department of Environmental Protection, allowing it to distribute money to local governments for sewer or stormwater infrastructure projects that reduce nonpoint source pollution. These grants can serve as matching funds to secure additional state or federal funding, and the bill also expands the fund's broader purposes to include water quality monitoring, watershed planning, and pollution prevention efforts. The measure affects local municipalities and environmental agencies by creating a new funding mechanism specifically targeted at water quality issues related to algal blooms.
This bill designates October of each year as "Walk to School Month" in New Jersey to encourage families to walk or bike to school. The resolution requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation calling on public officials, organizations, and citizens to observe the month with events and activities promoting active transportation. The bill does not change laws or require specific actions but serves as a symbolic designation to raise awareness about the health, environmental, and community benefits of walking or biking to school.
This bill is a concurrent resolution that urges the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Economic Development Authority to establish a plastics recycling marketplace. It calls for the Department of Environmental Protection to use State Recycling Fund money to research how to increase recycling of single-use plastics, while asking the Economic Development Authority to encourage and fund the creation of such a marketplace. The resolution defines single-use plastics as items like bottles, bags, and food containers designed for one-time use and highlights concerns about plastic waste pollution in the environment. This document is a formal recommendation rather than a law, so it does not create binding requirements but instead asks state agencies to take specific actions to address plastic waste management.
This bill appropriates $111.6 million in natural resource damages revenues to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for habitat restoration, land acquisition, and oversight projects. The funds come from legal settlements with various corporations and are allocated across different water regions and specific sites like the Ciba-Geigy Superfund Site. The Department of Environmental Protection may distribute these funds through grants or loans to local governments and nonprofit organizations, with the ability to reallocate money among projects subject to budget approval and legislative notification.
This bill requires construction contractors in New Jersey to use containment devices like vacuums, tarps, and enclosures to prevent dust, debris, and microplastics from escaping worksites and entering the environment. It mandates daily cleanup, proper waste disposal, and the installation of stormwater filters, while also requiring contractors to educate their employees on these requirements. The Department of Community Affairs or local officials will inspect worksites for compliance, and violators face escalating fines starting with a warning for the first offense.
This bill amends the composition of the Lake Hopatcong Commission by increasing the number of public members appointed by the Governor from two to four and adjusting term lengths for certain members. It also requires the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to develop a water level management plan for Lake Hopatcong that must be approved by the commission. The changes directly affect local governments in Morris and Sussex counties, as well as the municipalities bordering the lake, by altering how commission members are selected and how long they serve. The bill establishes clearer roles for the commission in monitoring water conditions, assessing development impacts, and coordinating with state agencies on watershed management.
This bill allows small businesses in New Jersey to apply for low-interest loans from the Economic Development Authority to cover the full cost of energy audits and the installation of energy efficiency improvements. To qualify, businesses must be independently owned, operate primarily within the state, and meet other criteria set by the authority. The loans can have terms of up to ten years and carry interest rates capped at the greater of 3% or half the prime rate. The authority will work with the Board of Public Utilities and the Department of Community Affairs to administer this program.
This bill creates a Forest Fire Preparedness Commission within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to improve wildfire prevention, mitigation, and response efforts. The commission will consist of 20 members, including state officials, fire service representatives, and public stakeholders, who will meet at least six times per year and hold public hearings. Its main tasks include auditing the state's current wildfire readiness, reviewing existing fire plans and interstate agreements, and developing coordinated communication protocols among emergency responders. The commission will also create a comprehensive roadmap for emergency response coordination, update evacuation procedures, and establish plans for ensuring water supply for firefighting aircraft.
This bill requires businesses with at least 50 employees in New Jersey that cater or order food to submit an excess food reduction plan to the Department of Environmental Protection for approval. The plan must outline specific strategies to reduce food waste, such as limiting food orders, improving distribution methods, minimizing landfill disposal, and increasing composting or food donation. Businesses that successfully reduce excess food by 25 percent will receive a tax credit against their business privilege tax to offset costs associated with food recycling and donation programs. The bill also mandates that approved businesses submit biannual reports to the Governor and Legislature on the effectiveness of their food reduction efforts.
