During a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the New Jersey state law that made the state the first in the nation to make recycling mandatory, the commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection championed many of the steps taken.
Lisa Jackson, DEP commissioner, noted, "Two decades ago, New Jersey became the first state to require recycling because we were facing a dire shortage of landfill space.''
During her remarks, she recognized several successful companies and projects that came from the state. Among those recognized were Valerie Montecalvo of Bayshore Recycling Corp. for her work toward a recycling "mega-mall" in Woodbridge; the Steel Recycling Institute for the industry's initiatives in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through recycling; and Rutgers University for its participation in Recyclemania, a friendly recycling competition among colleges and universities across the U.S.
Commissioner Jackson also awarded a combined construction and operating permit to Converted Organics, which plans to build an in-vessel facility to process food waste into a soil amendment for farming. The facility, to be built a t the Bayshore Recycling Corp. site, is the first of its kind in the nation.
While the state has taken great strides, the state DEP’s Reinvigorating Recycling Work Group has recommended an action plan that includes development of a new "branded" recycling message; increased enforcement for achieving recycling goals; and development of legislative initiatives to, among other things, reduce packaging and increase recycling of electronics.
The DEP's Bureau of Recycling and Planning has also commissioned a survey of state residents to help state and local governments better understand what levels of convenience and other factors would boost public involvement in recycling. Survey results will be released later this year.