Bill Text: NJ AJR151 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates first full week of May of each year as "New Jersey Compost Awareness Week."
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-11 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee [AJR151 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-AJR151-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman TIM EUSTACE
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Designates first full week of May of each year as "New Jersey Compost Awareness Week."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating the first full week of May of each year as "New Jersey Compost Awareness Week."
Whereas, Trash, or municipal solid waste (MSW), is composed of various materials that the citizens of the United States commonly throw away; and
Whereas, In 2014, the United States generated 258 million tons of MSW, of which approximately 65 percent could be classified as organic waste; and
Whereas, Organic waste is biodegradable waste such as paper and paperboard, food, yard trimmings, animal waste, biosolids, and sludges; and
Whereas, Organic waste that is deposited into landfills breaks down and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change, and increases landfill liquids that can pollute waterways; and
Whereas, Waste management programs are focusing on the use and reuse of organic waste in order to reduce waste and slow climate change, and composting is one way to reuse organic waste; and
Whereas, Composting is the decomposition of organic waste by microorganisms to produce a soil rich in nutrients, which is known as compost; and
Whereas, It is important to educate citizens about the importance of composting and the long-term benefits from recycling organic waste; and
Whereas, International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) is the largest and most comprehensive education initiative concerning compost; and
Whereas, ICAW's goal is to raise awareness regarding the benefits of using compost to improve or maintain quality soil, grow healthy plants, reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides, improve water quality, assist with erosion control, land and stream reclamation, and wetland construction, produce landfill cover, and protect the environment; and
Whereas, ICAW also raises awareness about the importance of composting household kitchen and yard trimmings, commonly referred to as backyard composting, as it helps divert that waste from landfills, waterways, and water treatment facilities; and
Whereas, Over the past couple years, recognition of ICAW's goals has increased as more people, businesses, municipalities, schools, and organizations are becoming aware of the importance of composting and the long-term benefits from recycling organic waste; and
Whereas, ICAW is celebrated nationwide and internationally during the first full week of May of each year; and
Whereas, It is therefore fitting and proper to recognize the importance of composting and the long-term benefits of recycling organic waste by observing "New Jersey Compost Awareness Week" during the first full week of May of each year; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The first full week of May of each year is designated as "New Jersey Compost Awareness Week" in order to recognize the importance of composting and the long-term benefits of recycling organic waste.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of the State to recognize the importance of composting and the long-term benefits of recycling organic waste by observing "New Jersey Compost Awareness Week" with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates the first full week of May of each year as "New Jersey Compost Awareness Week" in order to recognize the importance of composting and the long-term benefits of recycling organic waste.
Trash, or municipal solid waste (MSW), is composed of various materials that the citizens of the United States commonly throw away. In 2014, the United States generated 258 million tons of MSW and approximately 65 percent of that amount was classified as organic waste. Organic waste is biodegradable waste such as paper and paperboard, food, yard trimmings, animal waste, biosolids, and sludges. Organic waste that is deposited into landfills breaks down and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change and increases landfill liquids that can pollute waterways.
Composting is one way to reuse organic waste. Composting is the decomposition of organic waste by microorganisms to produce a soil rich in nutrients. The nutrient rich soil is known as compost. It is important to educate citizens about the importance of composting and the long-term benefits from recycling organic waste.
International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) is the largest and most comprehensive education initiative concerning compost. The goal of ICAW is to raise awareness regarding the benefits of using compost to improve or maintain high quality soil, grow healthy plants, reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides, improve
water quality, and protect the environment. Compost is also useful for erosion control, land and stream reclamation, wetland construction, and as a landfill cover.
ICAW is celebrated nationwide and internationally during the first full week of May of each year.
