P.L. 2019, c.439 (S3939 S3944 1R/SCS)

An Act establishing the Recycling Market Development Council.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. There is established in the Department of Environmental Protection a Recycling Market Development Council, which shall consist of eight members. The members shall include the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the State Treasurer, or their designees, who shall serve ex officio; and six citizens of the State appointed by the ¹[Commissioner of Environmental Protection] Governor¹. Of the appointed members: three shall be actively engaged in the recycling industry, of whom one shall be a representative of the Association of New Jersey Recyclers; and three shall have expertise in the reuse and processing of recycled materials. The ¹[Commissioner of Environmental Protection] Governor¹ shall appoint the chairperson and the vice-chairperson of the council from the appointed members. ¹All appointments by the Governor shall be made no later than 60 days after the effective date of this act.¹

b. Members of the council shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in attending meetings and performing their duties to the extent funds are appropriated or otherwise made available therefor.

c. Within ¹[six months] one year¹ after the effective date of this act, the Recycling Market Development Council shall prepare a report on the existing markets that process, reuse, or recycle collected recyclable materials. The council shall develop best management practices to reduce the contamination of collected recyclables; investigate how to stimulate the use of collected recyclables in newly manufactured products; investigate the feasibility of providing preferences for products with recycled content, including how to stimulate the use in public projects of products or materials with recycled content; and investigate methods to improve the competitiveness of the State as an exporter of recyclable materials. The council shall provide recommendations on changes needed to State laws or rules or regulations to stimulate the creation of domestic processing facilities, such as paper mills, and end-use manufacturers of products with recycled content. The report shall be transmitted to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature.

2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire upon the council's issuance of its report.

Establishes Recycling Market Development Council.