Urges DEP and EDA to establish plastics recycling marketplace.

ACR131

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 131

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 10, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

���� Urges DEP and EDA to establish plastics recycling
marketplace.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A
Concurrent Resolution

urging the
Department of Environmental Protection and the Economic Development Authority
to establish a plastics recycling marketplace.

Whereas,

Single-use plastics are defined as plastic packaging and other consumer
products made out of plastic that are designed to be used once and thrown away
after a brief use, and include bottles, cups, plastic lids, bags, plates,
utensils, straws, stirrers, swabs, food containers, plastic film wraps, and
plastic packaging; and

Whereas,

Americans purchase 50 billion water bottles per year, averaging 13 bottles per
month per person; and

Whereas,

Additionally, 100 billion plastic bags and 25 billion styrofoam plastic coffee
cups are thrown away by Americans each year, which averages to 307 plastic bags
and 77 cups per person per year; and

Whereas,

Not all single-use plastic waste reaches landfills, permanent disposal
facilities, or is recycled; and

Whereas,

New Jersey�s current post-consumer plastics recycling rates vary between six to
nine percent, however, although some calculations indicate recycling rates
maybe around 13 percent; and

Whereas,

Mismanaged single-use plastic waste may block drainage systems, release toxic
fumes if burned, become land pollution, and contaminate the food chain; and

Whereas,

Further, unrecycled plastics are disposed of in landfills, dumpsites,
incinerators, or end up in waterways and oceans where they will remain for
hundreds or even thousands of years; and

Whereas,

Furthermore, plastic released in the environment typically does not biodegrade,
but instead breaks into smaller pieces, called microplastics, which continue to
accumulate in the natural environment; and

Whereas,

There is evidence that microplastic pollution can move through natural food
webs and accumulate in fin fish and shellfish tissues, which means
microplastics and associated pollutants have the potential to move into the
human food chain; and

Whereas,

The accumulation of single-use plastics in our environment is dangerous for the
residents of this State, marine wildlife, and the environment, creates visual
pollution, and impacts tourism, fishing, and shipping industries; and

Whereas,

Efficient research needs to be conducted for the development of technologies to
reuse or transform single-use plastic waste into useful products and create a
marketplace for the massive volume of single-use plastics; and

Whereas,

It is imperative to develop a single-use plastics recycling marketplace in
order to divert single use plastics from our environment, including from our
oceans and landfills; now, therefore,

���� Be It
Resolved
by the General Assembly of the State
of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

���� 1.��� The Legislature
respectfully urges the Department of Environmental Protection to utilize monies
from the State Recycling Fund, established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1981,
c.278 (C.13:1E-96), to conduct the necessary research for the development of a
plastics recycling marketplace in the State in order to increase the volume of
single-use plastics being recycled in the State and decrease the amount of
these plastics from entering into our natural environment.

���� 2.��� The Legislature
respectfully urges the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to take steps
to encourage and provide funding to establish a plastics recycling marketplace
in the State in order to reduce the presence of single-use plastics in our
natural environment.�

�

���� 3.��� Copies of this resolution,
as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the
General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the Governor, the
Commissioner of Environmental Protection, and to the Chief Executive Officer of
the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

STATEMENT

���� This concurrent resolution
respectfully urges the Department of Environmental Protection to utilize monies
from the State Recycling Fund to conduct the necessary research for the
development of a plastics recycling marketplace in the State in order to increase
the volume of single-use plastics being recycled in the State and decrease the
amount of these plastics from entering into our natural environment.� In
addition, the Legislature respectfully urges the New Jersey Economic
Development Authority to take steps to encourage and provide funding to
establish a plastics recycling marketplace in the State in order to reduce the
presence of single-use plastics in our natural environment.�

���� Single-use
plastics are defined as plastic packaging and other consumer products made out
of plastic that are designed to be used once and thrown away after a brief use,
and include bottles, cups, plastic lids, bags, plates, utensils, straws,
stirrers, swabs, food containers, plastic film wraps, and plastic packaging.�
Americans purchase 50 billion water bottles per year, an averaging 13 bottles
per month per person. �Additionally, 100 billion plastic bags and 25 billion
styrofoam plastic coffee cups are thrown away by Americans each year, which
averages to 307 plastic bags and 77 cups per person per year.� Not all
single-use plastic waste reaches landfills, permanent disposal facilities, or
is recycled.

���� New Jersey�s current
post-consumer plastics recycling rates vary between six to nine percent,
however, although some calculations indicate recycling rates maybe around 13
percent.� Mismanaged single-use plastic waste may block drainage systems,
release toxic fumes if burned, become land pollution, and contaminate the food
chain.� Further, unrecycled plastics are disposed of in landfills, dumpsites,
incinerators, or end up in waterways and oceans where they will remain for
hundreds or even thousands of years.� Furthermore, plastic released in the
environment typically does not biodegrade, but instead breaks into smaller
pieces, called microplastics, which continue to accumulate in the natural
environment.� There is evidence that microplastic pollution can move through
natural food webs and accumulate in fin fish and shellfish tissues, which means
microplastics and associated pollutants have the potential to move into the
human food chain.� The accumulation of single-use plastics in our environment
is dangerous for the residents of this State, marine wildlife, and the
environment, creates visual pollution, and impacts tourism, fishing, and
shipping industries.