The New Jersey Senate Environment and Energy Committee has advanced the Packaging Product Stewardship Act, aimed at significantly reducing packaging waste in the US state.
The legislation, sponsored by Senator Bob Smith, introduces an extended producer responsibility (EPR) system for packaging manufacturers and distributors to manage the life cycle of these products.
The bill, S-3398, mandates that certain manufacturers and distributors implement stewardship plans to decrease packaging waste and enhance the state’s recycling and solid waste infrastructure.
Producers can either individually comply with the bill’s provisions or form producer responsibility organisations (PROs) to collectively submit a stewardship plan.
These PROs would be responsible for ensuring compliance with the plan and the bill’s requirements.
The legislation aims for a 50% reduction in the cumulative amount of single-use packaging products over a ten-year period.
By 2034, all packaging products within the state must be compostable or recyclable, and by next year, the state aims for at least a 65% recycling rate for packaging products.
Within two years of the bill’s effective date, the first PRO must conduct a statewide needs assessment to identify the steps and investments required to meet the new recycling and waste reduction targets.
This includes estimating costs for system upgrades, among other measures.
The legislation also calls for the establishment of a ‘Packaging Reduction and Recycling Fund’ within the state’s Department of the Treasury to further support the bill’s objectives.
Smith said: “This bill represents a comprehensive effort to ensure that the burden of managing the waste that results from packaging does not fall entirely onto consumers, as well as to put us on a path toward decreasing the amount of packaging waste that ends up in our landfills.
“By ensuring that these companies are playing a part in the management of the waste they create, we would incentivise efficiency in packaging and reduce the burden placed on local government, a burden that is currently paid for by the tax dollars of residents.”
