Bill
Bill > S637
NJ S637
NJ S637Requires owners and operators of certain landfills to control and monitor landfill gas emissions.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill would impose methane emissions control and monitoring requirements on the owners or operators of certain sanitary landfill facilities. The requirements would go into effect 24 months after the bill's enactment into law. Specifically, the bill would require any owner or operator of an authorized to accept solid waste for final disposal sanitary landfill facility or a sanitary landfill facility that closes after effective date of the bill, to: (1) obtain from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) a permit pursuant to the "Air Pollution Control Act (1954)," P.L.1954, c.212 (C.26:2C-1 et seq.); (2) install and operate a landfill gas collection and control system; (3) conduct quarterly surface monitoring of the facility's surface for methane levels; (4) ensure that methane emissions from the facility do not exceed certain limits described in subsection a. of section 1 of the bill; (5) submit to the DEP each year an estimate of the amount of methane generated by the facility each year; and (6) keep records and make reports to the DEP as necessary to comply with the bill's provisions. A landfill gas collection and control system collects landfill gas (which is composed primarily of methane and carbon dioxide) through pipes or wells buried in the landfill, processes the gas to remove impurities, and either converts the gas into usable fuel or combusts the gas using a flare. The bill contains certain minimum standards for landfill gas collection and control systems that are installed or modified after the bill's effective date, as enumerated in subsection b. of section 1 of the bill. Any violation of the bill's provisions would be a considered a violation of the "Solid Waste Management Act," P.L.1970, c.39 (C.13:1E-1 et seq.). A person who violates the "Solid Waste Management Act" could be liable for civil penalties and civil administrative penalties up to $50,000 per day of the offense.
AI Summary
This bill requires owners and operators of certain landfills, specifically those authorized to accept solid waste for disposal or those that close after the bill becomes law, to control and monitor landfill gas emissions, primarily methane, which is a component of landfill gas. Within 24 months of enactment, these facilities must obtain a permit from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under the Air Pollution Control Act, install and operate a system to collect and control landfill gas (which involves piping gas to a device that either converts it to fuel or burns it), conduct quarterly checks for methane levels on the landfill's surface, ensure methane emissions do not exceed specific limits (500 parts per million at any single spot or 25 parts per million on average across the entire area), and annually report their estimated methane generation to the DEP, while also keeping necessary records. The bill also sets minimum standards for new or modified landfill gas collection and control systems, such as continuous operation, routing gas to a control device, minimizing gas migration, and requiring flares or energy recovery devices to destroy at least 99% of methane. Violations of these requirements will be treated as violations of the Solid Waste Management Act, potentially leading to civil penalties of up to $50,000 per day.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S637 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S1000/637_I1.HTM |
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