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Panel hears hours of testimony on Packaging Product Stewardship Act as advocates spar over exemptions and 50% reduction target
Summary
S3398, the Packaging Product Stewardship Act, drew extended testimony from environmental groups pressing for strong source‑reduction and tight toxic bans and industry groups seeking exemptions, longer timelines and inclusion of advanced recycling; committee did not record a final vote at the hearing.
The committee devoted much of the hearing to S3398, the Packaging Product Stewardship Act, with dozens of witnesses and a detailed substitute bill introduced by the sponsor. Environmental witnesses praised core elements—such as a 50% source‑reduction requirement for single‑use plastic and toxics provisions—but warned that recent amendments introduced broad exemptions (including a proposed 10‑year product exemption) that would undermine the bill’s goals. Judith Enk of Beyond Plastics called for shorter or no product exemptions and greater restrictions on chemical recycling; she said plastics "is a climate change issue" and urged the committee to narrow subjective exemptions.
Industry witnesses, including the Chemistry Council of New Jersey and the Flexible Packaging Association, said some deadlines and product targets may be infeasible and urged a needs assessment, clearer definitions of exemptions (business‑to‑business/back‑of‑house), and allowance for some advanced recycling approaches. They also asked for clearer timelines for cost reimbursements and cautioned that a single program should not duplicate other EPR laws such as paint stewardship.
Advocates for environmental justice and public‑health concerns urged strong toxics bans and exclusion of advanced recycling from acceptable recycling metrics, citing hazardous waste and community risks tied to that technology. Several trade groups asked for representation on advisory bodies and for definitions that account for durable and industrial packaging.
Committee staff summarized a long list of amendments in a substitute bill—definitions, measurement units for performance targets, an exemption application process through DEP, a credit mechanism for historic source reduction and specific exemptions for medical and certain regulated products. The chair described the package as a work in progress; the committee recessed and scheduled further consideration at a future meeting. No committee roll call releasing S3398 was recorded at this session.
