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S 3815

Relates to special accidental death benefits paid to a deceased member's children

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Gustavo Rivera

Commission a statewide, consultant-led assessment to map packaging recycling/composting needs and costs to reach 2035 diversion goals.

SUBSTITUTED BY A8810A
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 3815

Summary — S-3815 (2024-2025): Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment for Packaging

Note: The title provided with the request (“Allows for certain child beneficiaries to receive accidental death benefits…”) appears unrelated to the bill text. S-3815 as reported and amended concerns a Statewide recycling, composting, and reuse needs assessment for packaging in New Jersey.

Purpose

Direct the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to contract for a Statewide needs assessment of recycling, composting, and reuse conditions for packaging (paper, plastic, glass, metal, multi‑material, and reusable/compostable formats), and to establish a temporary advisory council to guide and review the study. The bill appropriates $500,000 to fund the assessment.

Key provisions

  • DEP must competitively select a qualified consultant to perform the Statewide recycling needs assessment; consultant to be selected no later than January 15, 2026.
  • The assessment must evaluate, at minimum:
    • Quantities (by weight/type) of packaging sold, distributed, or served in the State;
    • Current collection systems (curbside, drop‑off), reuse, recycling, composting, and disposal pathways;
    • County‑by‑county municipal solid waste disposal quantities;
    • Processing capacity and infrastructure (in‑ and out‑of‑state) for reuse/recycling/composting;
    • Current recycling, composting, and reuse rates by material type;
    • Postconsumer recycled content use and packaging reusability/recyclability/compostability;
    • Capacity gaps, costs, and capital investments required to achieve “optimal recycling rate goals by 2035” for each material type, and investments needed for existing and future infrastructure for packaging.
  • Study parameters: minimum one calendar year of data; if longer, consultant must present annual data updates.
  • Timeline for deliverables:
    • Draft needs assessment due to the advisory council by December 31, 2026.
    • Advisory council must provide written comments within 90 days of draft receipt.
    • Consultant must submit the final needs assessment to DEP by May 1, 2027.
    • DEP must submit the final report to the Governor and Legislature by June 1, 2027.
  • Establishes a temporary Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment Advisory Council within DEP:
    • Members appointed by DEP commissioner (minimum composition requirements specified in the bill).
    • Duties: advise on scope, assist with data, review and comment on the assessment, review out‑of‑state packaging laws, evaluate producer responsibility program options, and submit a report of findings/recommendations.
    • Meets at least quarterly; members unpaid but reimbursed for necessary expenses; staffed by DEP.
    • Council dissolved 30 days after DEP submits the final assessment to the Governor and Legislature.

Fiscal impact

  • Appropriates $500,000 to DEP to contract with a consultant and support advisory council operations.
  • Office of Legislative Services estimates a time‑limited State expenditure increase of up to $500,000 through July 1, 2027. No ongoing costs expected after the council dissolution.

Who would be affected

  • DEP (responsible for procurement, oversight, and final reporting).
  • Consultants/contractors performing the assessment.
  • Local governments, haulers, material recovery facilities (MRFs), compost facilities, producers, retailers, and other entities involved in packaging production, collection, processing, and diversion — the study will examine their capacities and needs.
  • Policy‑makers: study intended to inform future policy (e.g., packaging producer responsibility, infrastructure investment).

Procedural status (selected actions)

  • Introduced: October 24, 2024 (Senate Environment & Energy Committee).
  • Reported out of Senate Environment & Energy Committee: February 10, 2025.
  • Passed Senate: June 13, 2025; delivered to Assembly and referred to Assembly committee (Governmental Employees).
  • Printed amended versions: S3815A and S3815B.
  • Sponsor: Senator Gustavo Rivera.
  • Companion/related bills: A-4902, A-8810; prior‑session S-9666.

Expected outcome

The bill creates a structured, consultant‑led evaluation (with stakeholder input via an advisory council) to identify infrastructure, capacity, and cost needs to improve packaging diversion and reach long‑term recycling goals by 2035. The assessment is intended to provide a factual foundation for potential legislative or regulatory actions (including producer responsibility programs) and capital planning.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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