Hart: N.J. must build recycling policy on facts, not assumptions

As someone who spent nearly 30 years at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), I learned time and time again that environmental policy is a science, not an art. Gut feelings, assumptions, and preconceived notions don’t matter as much as hard facts from real data, which must serve as the bedrock of any policies that relate to our environment. That’s why, as state lawmakers look to reform and strengthen our recycling system, a legislative proposal to conduct a statewide recycling needs assessment (A.4902/S.3815) is exactly the kind of smart, Jersey-first approach we need.

This bill would give DEP the authority to lead a comprehensive, data-driven review of our state’s recycling system, which we must conduct before jumping into any sweeping mandates or restrictions. That’s the only way to create policy that actually addresses the real problems we’re facing while avoiding unintended consequences and burdens for consumers.

DEP is uniquely qualified to oversee this kind of assessment. They understand the diversity of our communities, the complexity of our solid waste systems, and how policy decisions play out on the ground. This assessment would tap into that expertise, engage a wide range of stakeholders, and generate the kind of insights we need to make effective, targeted improvements.

The assessment would also help us answer some critical questions such as: What materials are the most problematic to manage? Where do infrastructure gaps exist? What do our municipal recycling systems need to succeed? With that foundation, New Jersey can craft a tailored extended producer responsibility (EPR) framework—if one is needed at all.

We’ve seen this approach work elsewhere. Maryland, for example, launched a similar statewide recycling needs assessment before crafting its EPR legislation this year. That process helped identify which materials posed the biggest challenges and how state and local programs could benefit from reform. It also gave stakeholders—including municipalities, recyclers, manufacturers, and environmental advocates—a chance to weigh in meaningfully. The result was a more measured, thoughtful approach, built on Maryland’s specific needs, not a cookie-cutter solution imported from elsewhere.

New Jersey deserves the same. Unfortunately, some of the proposals currently under consideration in Trenton would leap ahead to major reforms without this critical first step, which would result in mandates and bans that would not apply to what our recycling programs actually need. Some of the proposals include provisions—like incorrectly redefining advanced recycling as “incineration”—that could close the door on technologies with real potential to strengthen our recycling system, while others include provisions that are unrelated to packaging recovery. That’s not how you build sustainable policy. That’s how you create lawsuits, confusion, and additional costs for families.

New Jersey is not accustomed to blindly following trends from other states. We do our homework, we build consensus, and we make sure our solutions actually fit the problems we’re trying to solve. The status quo is far from perfect, but rushing into restrictive mandates without first understanding the current landscape would be a mistake. New Jersey’s diverse communities, recycling systems, and industries require a thoughtful approach. We need to know what’s working, what’s not, and where investments or changes would do the most good.

The statewide recycling needs assessment puts us on the right path. It gives DEP the tools to evaluate where investments are needed, what materials pose the biggest challenges, and how we can modernize recycling across all 21 counties. Only after we have that foundation in place should we consider more comprehensive reforms.

A.4902/S.3815 reflects the common-sense, Jersey-smart way of doing things. It gives us the facts before we forge the policy. It lets us build solutions that work for New Jersey—not just for headlines. Let’s make sure we start with knowledge before we impose mandates. I urge all state lawmakers to support the recycling needs assessment bill and get this done the right way.