Bill > S1441

This bill establishes a School Plastics Upcycling Grant Program within the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide grants to eligible schools for upcycling collected plastics into school-appropriate furnishings. The program, initially a pilot for three years, will award grants proportionally based on each school's share of collected plastics, with the goal of enabling schools to acquire furniture like benches, tables, and desks made from recycled plastic. To be eligible, schools must demonstrate that their students or staff collected plastics during the preceding school year and donated them to an "authorized upcycler" – a qualified entity identified by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection capable of transforming plastic waste into higher-value products. Grant funds can be used for purchasing these upcycled furnishings, with at least 80% dedicated to this purpose, and up to 20% for administrative or incidental costs related to the program. The bill also outlines reporting requirements for schools and the DEP, and the Commissioner will evaluate the program's success and recommend its continuation.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Education

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S1441