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.
Environmental advocates support the bill, with some calling it the strongest in the nation. They argue that the current plastic pollution crisis cannot be solved solely through recycling efforts. The bill aims to shift the financial responsibility for managing plastic packaging waste from taxpayers to the producers of the materials.
However, business groups oppose the legislation, stating that it is unrealistic and unworkable. They argue that New Jersey has been successful in recycling efforts and that the bill overlooks advancements in recycling technologies, such as advanced recycling, which breaks down plastics into base chemicals for reuse.
Concerns have been raised about the safety and environmental impact of advanced recycling processes, with some pointing out potential risks such as toxic chemical releases, fires, and hazardous material generation. The bill would require the state Department of Environmental Protection to assess the recycling market and determine the costs of upgrading it to accommodate increased recycling of packaging materials.
By 2032, the bill mandates a 25% reduction in single-use packaging products, with at least 10% of that reduction coming from the shift to reusable products or the elimination of plastic components. By 2034, all packaging products in New Jersey must be compostable or recyclable, and by 2036, the state aims to achieve a recycling rate of at least 65% for packaging products.
