Bill Text: NJ AR135 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges State and businesses to facilitate and encourage recycling of plastic products.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Passed) 2013-06-21 - Filed with Secretary of State [AR135 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-AR135-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CELESTE M. RILEY
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
SYNOPSIS
Urges State and businesses to facilitate and encourage recycling of plastic products.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the State and businesses to facilitate and encourage the recycling of plastic products.
Whereas, The accumulation, on land and at sea, of solid waste composed of discarded plastic products, such as beverage bottles, food containers, and other packaging, is a problem of public concern that poses a direct threat to both the natural environment and the health and safety of New Jersey's citizens; and
Whereas, There is an opportunity to reduce litter in the State by expanding access to recyclable products and recycling infrastructure, and by increasing the collection of plastic products and packaging for recycling purposes; and
Whereas, Plastic packaging, including many plastic bottles and plastic film, can be recycled again and again to produce new packaging or other products; and
Whereas, There is a nationwide trend toward the increased use of single-stream recycling, which allows for the simultaneous and combined collection of a wide range of products and packaging, including those that are often littered; and
Whereas, The disposal of plastic packaging and other used plastic products in landfills adds to the State's solid waste disposal challenges and reduces the State's opportunity to create new "green" jobs for recycling; and
Whereas, The increased use of recycled PET and HDPE plastics, as well as other types of plastic, may create a smaller environmental footprint by reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, in comparison to the use of virgin resins; and
Whereas, In order to reduce litter and landfill waste in the State, and increase the potential for local "green" jobs, it is in the public interest for the State to support the increased recycling of plastic products; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. In recognition of the nationwide movement toward single-stream recycling collection and the increased collection of plastic for recycling, this House urges the Governor and all executive branch agencies in the State to take whatever action is necessary to expand and strengthen the plastic recycling infrastructure in New Jersey to the maximum extent possible.
2. This House further encourages the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Community Affairs, the Division of Travel and Tourism in the Department of State, and the New Jersey Business and Industry Association to take all appropriate and feasible actions to promote the recycling of plastic products by businesses and residents of, and visitors to, New Jersey.
3. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the Governor, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, the Commissioner of Community Affairs, the Director of the Division of Travel and Tourism in the Department of State, and the New Jersey Business and Industry Association.
STATEMENT
This resolution would urge the State and businesses to facilitate and encourage the increased recycling of plastic products. Various types of plastic packaging, including many plastic bottles and plastic film, can be recycled over and over again to produce new packaging or other products. There is a nationwide trend, moreover, toward the increased use of single-stream recycling, which would allow for the simultaneous and combined collection of a wide range of products and packaging, including those that are often littered. The expansion of access to recyclable products and recycling infrastructure, and the increased collection of plastic products and packaging for recycling purposes, will better facilitate the reduction of litter and landfill waste in the State and increase the potential for "green" jobs. In addition, the increased use of recycled PET and HDPE plastics, as well as other types of plastic, may create a smaller environmental footprint by reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, in comparison to the use of virgin resins.
