New Jersey is considering a bill that would require all packaging materials used in the state to be recyclable or compostable by 2034. The goal is to reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills and the environment. Similar bills have been passed in California, Colorado, Oregon, Maine, and Minnesota. The bill aims to create a $120 million fund to bolster recycling efforts and reduce solid waste.
Opponents of the bill, including business groups, argue that it is unrealistic and not workable, and that the state already has successful recycling programs in place. They also criticize the bill for banning advanced recycling technologies that could potentially reduce waste.
Supporters of the bill, however, argue that the current system is not enough to address the plastic waste crisis, and that stricter regulations are needed. The bill would also require the state Department of Environmental Protection to study the recycling market and calculate the cost of upgrading it to handle increased recycling efforts. By 2036, the recycling rate of packaging products in New Jersey would have to be at least 65%.
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