SENATE, No. 2494

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED OCTOBER 14, 2014

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  RAYMOND J. LESNIAK

District 20 (Union)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires composting or recycling of food waste by large volume generators.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Act concerning the disposal of food waste, and supplementing P.L.1970, c.39 (C.13:1E-1 et seq.).

 

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

 

     1.    As used in P.L.    , c.   (C.   ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

     "Composting facility" means a solid waste facility designed and operated for the purpose of composting organic materials, including food waste, that have been source separated from other solid waste and recyclables.

     "Large food waste generator" means any commercial food wholesaler, distributor, industrial food processor, supermarket, resort, conference center, banquet hall, restaurant, educational or religious institution, military installation, prison, hospital, medical facility, or casino that produces at least 104 tons per year of food waste.

     "Food waste" means food waste, food processing residue, and soiled or unrecyclable paper.

     "Food waste recycling facility" means a solid waste facility that processes food waste for a future beneficial use, such as an anaerobic digestion facility, or an in-vessel food waste dehydrator.

 

     2.    a.  Beginning January 1, 2015 and until December 31, 2015, all food waste generated by a large food waste generator shall be sent by the generator for final disposal to a composting facility or a food waste recycling facility, authorized or approved by the Department of Environmental Protection, provided that there is a composting facility or food waste recycling facility authorized or approved by the department to accept the food waste located within 25 miles of the large food waste generator.

     b.    Beginning January 1, 2016, all food waste generated by a large food waste generator shall be sent by the generator for final disposal to a composting facility or food waste recycling facility authorized or approved by the Department of Environmental Protection.

 

     3.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill would require large volume generators of food waste to send their waste for disposal to a composting facility or a food waste recycling facility, such as a facility that uses anaerobic digestion or an in-vessel food waste dehydrator.  For the first year of the program, the requirement would apply only if there is a composting facility or food waste recycling facility authorized or approved by the Department of Environmental Protection to accept food waste located within 25 miles of the large food waste generator.  After one year, the requirement would apply to all large food waste generators.