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Committee advances voluntary program to collect and dispose of farm pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers
Summary
A5357 would direct DEP (with Agriculture consultation) to establish a voluntary farm pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer collection and disposal program with at least two collection events per year at strategically located sites; committee amendments added herbicides and fertilizers and require annual reporting to the governor and Legislature.
The committee released A5357, which would require the Department of Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, to establish a voluntary statewide program to collect, transport and dispose of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers held by commercial farms.
Under the bill as amended, DEP would establish strategically located collection sites in the northern, central and southern regions of the state and offer at least two collection events per year at each site. DEP would contract with qualified entities to collect and dispose of materials and appoint local agents to inventory collected items. The Department of Agriculture would conduct a cooperative public education campaign to inform farmers about collection locations, the types of products accepted, program benefits and environmental advantages. DEP would publish an annual report on program activity and submit it to the governor and Legislature.
Committee amendments broadened the program to explicitly include herbicides and fertilizers in addition to pesticides and added the annual reporting requirement.
Sponsors and stakeholders, including environmental groups and the New Jersey Farm Bureau, supported the voluntary collection approach, citing successful programs in neighboring states and the benefits of preventing improper disposal that could harm soil and water. A sponsor who could not attend provided written testimony citing similar programs in California, New York and Pennsylvania and the value of site‑based collection events for reducing environmental remediation risk.
The committee voted to release the bill with amendments; members registered support by roll call.
