Bill > A4118

This bill establishes statewide targets to reduce organic waste disposal in landfills, requiring the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create comprehensive regulations to achieve significant waste reduction. Specifically, the bill mandates a 50% reduction in organic waste disposal by January 1st of the seventh year after the act's effective date, and a 75% reduction by January 1st of the twelfth year. The legislation defines organic waste as materials of biological origin like food scraps, yard trimmings, and clean wood, and requires the DEP to develop a phased compliance schedule for generators based on the quantity of waste they produce. The bill includes provisions for edible food recovery, aiming to recover increasingly higher percentages of unused edible food over time, from 5% to 20% in subsequent years. To support implementation, the DEP must create a grant and loan program to help counties, municipalities, and organizations develop organic waste infrastructure, prioritizing projects that serve multiple municipalities, overburdened communities, or enhance food recovery systems. The bill also requires the DEP to publish an infrastructure readiness assessment, develop a model ordinance for local governments, and submit biennial reports tracking progress toward waste reduction targets, with provisions for potential penalties for non-compliance and flexibility for entities demonstrating good faith efforts to meet the requirements.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Education

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A4118