Committee releases three environment bills; community-garden composting exemption advances after testimony

The Assembly Environment and Natural Resources and Solid Waste Committee met and voted to release three bills from committee, including a measure to exempt certain community-garden composting operations from Department of Environmental Protection permits after supporters described permit costs and regulatory barriers.

AB1872, as amended, would exempt community gardens operating on-site composting systems or other organic-waste management systems from specified DEP permitting requirements in defined circumstances. Alexis Bailey of Public Strategies Impact, representing the Association of New Jersey Recyclers, told the committee the bill would cut red tape and help community gardens operate more easily: "We very much support the bill…This is a way we can cut some red tape and streamline processes for community gardens, supports our environment and our community." Wayne Duffy, also speaking for the association, said New Jersey appears to be unique among states in regulating community-garden composting and said "it can cost up to $10,000 for a permit to run a community garden," adding that the regulation effectively stops some gardens from operating. The bill’s committee amendments remove definitions for "food waste" and "source separated," add a definition for "organic waste," and replace references to food waste with organic waste.

The committee voted to release AB1872 after supporters registered in favor; the record shows a unanimous committee vote to release the bill.

The committee also released AB1318, which, as amended, requires DEP to provide public boat access to certain lakes and reservoirs, extends applicability to county-owned lakes and to reservoirs in addition to lakes, and removes the $2,000,000 appropriation that appeared in earlier drafts. The committee voted to amend and release the bill.

Finally, the committee released AB1873, directing DEP to prioritize funding for certain land-acquisition projects for recreation and conservation and for environmental-infrastructure projects that include or allow flood mitigation. Supporters were noted on the record and the committee voted to release the bill.

All three measures were released from committee by recorded voice/roll-call votes with 'Yes' votes from the members present and were placed on the committee record as released. The meeting concluded without further action.

Actions at a glance: AB1318 — motion to amend and release recorded and bill released; AB1872 — motion to amend and release recorded and bill released; AB1873 — motion to release recorded and bill released. Vote tallies on the record for each measure show unanimous 'Yes' votes from the members present.