Bill Text: NJ AR150 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

New Jersey Assembly Resolution 150 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Encourages schools to purchase and use products made with recycled materials.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2013-05-21 - Filed with Secretary of State [AR150 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2012-AR150-Introduced.html

ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 150

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

215th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman SCOTT RUDDER

District 8 (Atlantic, Burlington and Camden)

Assemblyman CHRISTOPHER J. BROWN

District 8 (Atlantic, Burlington and Camden)

SYNOPSIS

Encourages schools to purchase and use products made with recycled materials.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As introduced.

An Assembly Resolution encouraging schools to purchase and use products made with recycled materials.

Whereas, School students in New Jersey learn about the many benefits of recycling, including the reduction of waste in landfills and the reuse or repurposing of waste products into new ones in order to extend the lifespan of a product; and

Whereas, Elementary and secondary schools in New Jersey enroll more than 1.35 million students each year, and these students learn about the importance of recycling as a sustainable practice and participate in recycling while at school; and

Whereas, The significance of combining both the theory and the practice of recycling is further advanced by the endorsement, purchase, and use of products made with, or composed of, recycled materials; and

Whereas, Students take the recycling knowledge learned at school and incorporate recycling into their daily lives; and

Whereas, Recycling is widely practiced throughout New Jersey, and the development of many State and local recycling initiatives and goals originate from the enactment of the "New Jersey Statewide Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act," P.L.1987, c.102 (C.13:1E-99.11 et al.), the "Clean Communities Program Act," P.L.2002, c.128 (C.13:1E-213 et seq.), and the "Recycling Enhancement Act," P.L.2007, c.311 (C.13:1E-96.2 et seq.), among others; and

Whereas, Under current law, a purchasing preference is to be made by a school for paper or paper products that are manufactured or produced from recycled paper or recycled paper products, but many other items, besides paper and paper products, used in schools may also have nearly identical counterparts made with or composed of recycled materials; and

Whereas, The Bureau of Recycling and Planning, in the Department of Environmental Protection, offers a "Buy Recycled" webpage dedicated to providing information to consumers about manufacturers and distributors of various recycled products, which include apparel, building products, interior design and furnishings, paper and paper products, plastic lumber, promotional items, and other miscellaneous products; and

Whereas, The United States Environmental Protection Agency promotes the use of materials recovered from solid waste because buying recycled-content products ensures that the materials collected in recycling programs will be used again in the manufacture of new products; and

Whereas, It is in the best interest of the State and in the public interest to encourage schools to support recycling efforts by purchasing and using products made with recycled materials; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House encourages schools to purchase and use products made with recycled materials. This House further encourages the Department of Education, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department of the Treasury to assist schools in their efforts to purchase and use products made with recycled materials.

2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested to by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the Governor of the State of New Jersey, the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, the State Treasurer, and each County Superintendent of Schools in this State.

STATEMENT

This resolution would encourage schools to purchase and use products made with recycled materials. This resolution further encourages the Department of Education, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and the Department of the Treasury to assist schools in their efforts to purchase and use products made with recycled materials.

School students in New Jersey learn about the many benefits of recycling, including the reduction of waste in landfills and the reuse or repurposing of waste products into new ones in order to extend the lifespan of a product. Elementary and secondary schools in New Jersey enroll more than 1.35 million students each year, and these students learn about the importance of recycling as a sustainable practice and participate in recycling while at school. The significance of combining both the theory and the practice of recycling is further advanced by the endorsement, purchase, and use of products made with, or composed of, recycled materials.

Under current law, a purchasing preference is to be made by a school for paper or paper products that are manufactured or produced from recycled paper or recycled paper products, but many other items used in schools may also have nearly identical counterparts made with or composed of recycled materials. The Bureau of Recycling and Planning, in the DEP, offers a "Buy Recycled" webpage dedicated to providing information to inform consumers of manufacturers and distributors of various recycled products, which include apparel, building products, interior design and furnishings, paper and paper products, plastic lumber, promotion items, and other miscellaneous products.