New Jersey Mandatory Recycling Law Applies in Every Municipality

Under N.J.S.A. 13:1E-99.11 et seq., every county must adopt a recycling plan and every municipality must enact an ordinance requiring source separation of mandated materials, including newspaper, glass, aluminum and steel cans, corrugated cardboard, and leaves. Generators may not place these materials in the trash. The Department of Environmental Protection oversees implementation and counties certify municipal compliance. Local governments cannot opt out, though they may add materials to the mandatory list.

N.J.S.A. 13:1E-99.34 authorizes municipal fines up to $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second, and $2,500 for subsequent violations of recycling requirements.