Plastics and Food Waste Bills Passed in Senate Today

S865 (Smith/Bateman)/A2371 (Kennedy): Requires large food waste generators to separate and recycle food waste and amends definition of “Class I renewable energy.” The bill passed with a vote of 22-17.

“New Jersey has a serious problem with food waste, and this legislation needs to get passed this year to help deal with it. Food waste fills up our landfills and releases methane and CO2 into the atmosphere. We currently waste between 30-40% of our food supply each year. Requiring large food waste generators to compost food will help get it out of our waste stream and reduce our greenhouse gases. We are concerned that the DEP can grant a waiver to allow food waste to go to incinerators and landfills, and that biogas is defined as a Class I renewable energy,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “The Assembly and Senate have both acted, now Governor Murphy must sign this bill quickly. As we move toward getting to zero carbon, we need to move towards getting to zero food waste.”

According to a report, an estimated 40 percent of food produced in the US is wasted every year. This adds up to about 62.5 million tons, costing households, businesses and farms about $218 billion annually. Also wasted were the resources that went into producing the food, including 25 percent of all freshwater consumed, 31 percent of total carbon emissions, and 80 million acres of farmland used in the US according to the EPA.

“This is an important step in the right direction for handling New Jersey’s food waste, but we need clear targets to reduce food waste. California has already reduced their food waste by 50%, and they are moving toward a target of 75% by 2025. We need to pass legislation with similar targets, like S340 (Smith/Greenstein) that calls for 50% reductions by 2022 and 75% by 2027. We are in a climate crisis and our waste is a major contributor. We also need education programs to help people and restaurants learn how to reduce and reuse food waste,” said Tittel.  “This legislation will help reduce and reuse food waste in a sustainable way. Converting food to energy will produce a tremendous amount of energy while reducing methane emissions.”

S864 (Smith/Greenstein): Prohibits provision or sale of single-use plastic carryout bags, single-use paper carryout bags, and polystyrene foam food service products; limits provision of single-use plastic straws; appropriates moneys from Clean Communities Program Fund for public education. The bill passed with a vote of 22-14.

“The Senate has taken the first step towards getting this bill passed as soon as possible. Every day of delay means that more plastics are getting into our environment and into us. This is the most comprehensive plastic bill in the nation because it bans paper bags as well as single-use plastic bags. This legislation is critical because it could make New Jersey a national leader in going after plastics and protecting our environment,” said Jeff Tittel. “We have been fighting to get this bill passed for over two years. Given the delays, it is important that they have changed the effective date to 18 months instead of 2 years. The Assembly must push this bill through quickly, because the longer we delay the worse our plastic problem gets.”

Plastics have become a bigger and bigger problem that affects our environment. Rutgers scientists found densities of about 28,000 to more than 3 million plastic particles per square kilometer in the Passaic and Raritan Rivers. Beach sweeps in New Jersey found that beaches from Monmouth County down to Cape May County have micro plastics in the ocean and on the beach.

“Now that the Senate has passed this bill, the Assembly needs to pass it as quickly as possible. This is landmark legislation for New Jersey when it comes to plastics. People are fed up with plastic pollution filling up their storm drains and threatening their drinking water. 38 towns in New Jersey already have plastic bans in effect, 18 have passed ordinances that are not yet in effect, and dozens more are in the process. New Jersey’s Legislature needs to stand up and be as bold as places like Jersey City and Sea Bright. We need this comprehensive statewide ban to combat our plastic pollution effectively,” said Tittel. “The Assembly must work quickly to get this to the governor’s desk to sign before our plastic waste problem gets worse. We cannot afford to wait any longer.”

S1016 (Smith): Restricts use of neonicotinoid pesticides; directs DEP to study, and authorizes DEP to restrict, systemic insecticides. The bill passed with a vote of 32-7.

“This legislation will restrict the use of these harmful pesticides, which is an important step in the right direction. However, this bill doesn’t go far enough. New Jersey needs to phase out neonicotinoids, especially imidacloprid, as quickly as we can. This is especially important because of Trump’s rollback to the federal neonicotinoid ban two years ago. We are entering into an environmental crisis because of loss of bees, and pesticides are the main factor. This has a dramatic impact on farming and the environment,” said Jeff Tittel. “We support this legislation in absence of a full ban because bees are dying in record numbers and hives are collapsing. If New Jersey really wants to help save wildlife and bees, we need to ban pesticides that are harmful to them.”

S228 (Diegnan/Ruiz): Requires EDA to establish a loan program for certain costs of electric-powered school bus purchases by local school districts and school bus contractors. The bill passed with a vote of 38-1.

“It is important to get electric vehicles moving in New Jersey, and focusing on electric school buses is a great idea. Not only will this reduce air pollution for children riding them, but for the communities that the school buses drive through. Over 45% of our greenhouse gases in New Jersey come from automobiles, but these emissions can be easily cut by implementing EV technology. Electric school buses will help reduce emissions from refineries, drilling oil, and transportation,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Electric school buses will help make us more energy independent. This legislation will help our children breathe easier.”