ASSEMBLY AGRICULTURE AND WASTE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2921

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: NOVEMBER 17, 1997

      The Assembly Agriculture and Waste Management Committee favorably reports Assembly Bill No. 2921 with committee amendments.

      As amended, Assembly Bill No. 2921 would exempt certain recycling centers that are designed and operated solely for receiving, storing, processing or transferring Class C recyclable material from the requirement to obtain a general recycling center approval under certain specified circumstances. The general recycling center approval requirement is contained within the revised rules and regulations adopted by the DEP as N.J.A.C. 7:26A-3.1 et seq. on December 16, 1996. "Class C recyclable material" refers to source separated compostable material including organic materials such as food waste, vegetative food waste and yard trimmings.

      To qualify for an exemption under the bill, a recycling center must satisfy the following criteria:

      (1) The facility must be located on a site consisting of 5 acres or less;

      (2) The facility must have been in operation for at least 5 years;

      (3) The facility had been previously classified by the DEP as a solid waste facility for which a valid registration statement approval was issued pursuant to law;

      (4) The facility must be owned or operated by a municipality solely for receiving, storing, processing or transferring leaves, grass or yard trimmings;

      (5) The facility has no history of regulatory complaints pertaining to operational matters, including noise, odor, health or safety complaints; and

      (6) As a consequence of the new rules and regulations the facility has been reclassified by the DEP as a recycling center for Class C source separated compostable material.