A divided Senate panel advanced聽controversial legislation to mandate dramatic decreases in non-recyclable packaging over the complaints of packaging industry officials.聽The bill, which passed in a 3-2 vote along party lines after being heard by the panel for an eighth time, would require packaging producers to reduce by half the amount of single-use plastic packaging they produce, sell, import, or distribute over the next 10 years.
鈥淏y ensuring that these companies are playing a part in the management of the waste they create, we would incentivize efficiency in packaging and reduce the burden placed on local government, a burden that is currently paid for by the tax dollars of residents,鈥� said bill sponsor Sen. Bob Smith (D-Middlesex), the committee鈥檚 chairman.
If passed, the legislation would require all packaging products in New Jersey to be compostable or recyclable by 2034 and mandate at least 65% of packaging products be recycled by 2036.