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S3831
SENATE, No. 3831
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED MARCH 10, 2026
Sponsored by:
Senator� LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
���� Directs DEP to establish rebate program for purchase
of microfiber washing machine filter or replacement filter; appropriates $2.5
million.�
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning microfiber washing machine filters,
supplementing
Title 13 of the Revised Statutes, and making an
appropriation.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� a.� No later than one
year after the effective date of this section, the Department of Environmental
Protection shall establish and implement a program to provide rebates to
residents of the State for the purchase of a microfiber washing machine filter
or a replacement microfiber washing machine filter.� The purpose of the rebate
program shall be to encourage the purchase of microfiber washing machine
filters and replacement filters and reduce the amount of microfiber pollution
in the State.
���� b.� The department shall issue
a one-time rebate to any resident of the State who purchases an eligible
microfiber washing machine filter or replacement filter, as determined by the
department, submits a complete application for the rebate, in a manner and form
determined by the department, and meets the requirements set forth in this
section and in any rules or regulations adopted pursuant thereto by the
department pursuant to subsection f. of this section.
���� c.� The amount of the rebate
shall not exceed the lesser of:
���� (1) the cost of the microfiber
washing machine filter or replacement filter; or
���� (2) $100.
���� d.� The department shall
determine the types or brands of microfiber washing machine filters and
replacement filters that are eligible for the rebate provided pursuant to this
section and the manner and form for residents to apply for and, if eligible, receive
a rebate pursuant to this section.
���� e.� The department shall
advertise the availability of rebates pursuant to this section on its Internet
website and update the information as necessary.
���� f.� The department shall
adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968,
c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), such rules and regulations as may be necessary for
the implementation of the rebate program established pursuant to this section.
���� g.��� No later than two years
after the effective date of this act, and annually thereafter, the department
shall prepare and submit to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of
P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature, a report that includes, at
a minimum:
���� (1) a summary of the
effectiveness of the rebate program in encouraging the purchase of microfiber
washing machine filters and replacement filters and minimizing microfiber
pollution in the State;
���� (2) the total number of
rebates provided during the year;
���� (3) the total amount of money
spent on the provision of rebates during the year;
���� (4) the amount of funding
still available for the provision of rebates in future years;
���� (5) recommendations to improve
the rebate program�s effectiveness; and
���� (6) recommendations concerning
whether or not additional funding is needed to continue the rebate program.
���� h.��� As used in this section:
���� �Department� means the
Department of Environmental Protection.
���� �Microfiber washing machine
filter� means a device that attaches to a washing machine and is used to filter
microfibers from the washing machine wastewater before the microfibers are
released into a septic system or public sewage system.
���� 2.��� There is appropriated
from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Protection the sum of
$2.5 million for the purposes of providing rebates pursuant to the program
established in section 1 of this act.
���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
���� This bill would require, no
later than one year after the bill�s effective date, the Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish and implement a program to provide
rebates to State residents for the purchase of a microfiber washing machine
filter or a replacement microfiber washing machine filter.� The purpose of the
rebate program would be to encourage the purchase of microfiber washing machine
filters and replacement filters and reduce the amount of microfiber pollution
in the State.� As defined in the bill, �microfiber washing machine filter�
means a device that attaches to a washing machine and is used to filter
microfibers from the washing machine wastewater before the microfibers are
released into a septic system or public sewage system.
���� Under the bill, one-time
rebates would be available to any resident of the State who purchases an
eligible microfiber washing machine filter or replacement filter, as determined
by the DEP, submits a complete application for the rebate, in a manner and form
determined by the DEP, and meets the bill�s requirements.� The amount of the
rebate would not exceed the lesser of:� (1) the cost of the microfiber washing
machine filter or replacement filter; or (2) $100.
���� The DEP would be required to
determine the types or brands of microfiber washing machine filters and
replacement filters that are eligible for the rebate, determine the manner and
form for residents to apply for and, if eligible, receive a rebate, and adopt
rules and regulations as necessary to implement the rebate program established
by the bill.� The DEP would be required to advertise the availability of the
rebates offered pursuant to the bill on their Internet website.� The bill would
also require, no later than two years after the bill�s effective date, and
annually thereafter, the DEP to prepare and submit a report to the Governor and
the Legislature that includes, at a minimum:� (1) a summary of the
effectiveness of the rebate program in encouraging the purchase of microfiber
washing machine filters and replacement filters and minimizing microfiber
pollution in the State; (2) the total number of rebates provided during the
year; (3) the total amount of money spent on the provision of rebates during
the year; (4) the amount of funding still available for the provision of
rebates in future years; (5) recommendations to improve the rebate program�s
effectiveness; and (6) recommendations concerning whether or not additional
funding is needed to continue the rebate program.
���� Finally, the bill would
appropriate $2.5 million from the General Fund to the DEP for the purposes of
providing rebates pursuant to the rebate program established by the bill.
���� According to the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it is estimated that more than eight
million tons of plastic enter our oceans every year.� A leading source of this
pollution is clothing and textiles.� The majority of clothing is made from
plastic-based materials such as polyester, rayon, nylon, and acrylic.� When
washed in a washing machine, synthetic clothing sheds tiny plastic fragments
known as microfibers, which eventually end up contaminating shorelines and
waterways.� Microfibers are the most prevalent type of microplastic (plastic
pieces less than 5 mm in diameter) found in the environment.� Microfibers have
been found in a variety of aquatic life, including fish and shellfish, and
humans are exposed to microplastics through the consumption of food and water
containing microplastics.
���� The EPA recommends the
installation of a microfiber washing machine filter to reduce the amount of
microfibers that flow from washing machines to waterways.� Certain microfiber
washing machine filter manufacturers report that their product is able to prevent
the release of up to 90 percent of microfibers that would otherwise be released
during the process of doing laundry.� It is crucial to take steps to minimize
microfiber pollution in the State, and this bill will help to encourage the
purchase of a product that can limit the amount of microfibers that enter the
State�s waters.