New Jersey is taking significant steps to reduce the amount of packaging material, particularly plastic, that ends up in landfills or as pollution in the environment. A bill set to be discussed in the state Legislature aims to make all packaging materials used in the state recyclable or compostable by 2034. This move is in response to the fact that containers and packaging materials from shopping contribute to about 28% of municipal waste sent to U.S. landfills, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The proposed bill in New Jersey would impose fees on manufacturers and distributors to create a $120 million fund dedicated to enhancing recycling efforts and reducing solid waste. Several other states, including California, Colorado, Oregon, Maine, and Minnesota, have already passed similar bills to address packaging waste.
