Waste

Statement by Maura Toomey, Zero Waste Organizer for Clean Water Action before the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee Opposing A5803

June 14, 2021

Thank you for the opportunity to testify on this bill. Clean Water Action strongly opposes A5803, which would exempt plastic material processed at advanced plastic processing facilities from solid waste and recycling regulations, and urges the bill’s sponsor Assemblyman McKeon to pull this bill.

New Jersey’s ban on single-use carryout bags and polystyrene foam containers will go into effect one year from now, or May 2022! This victory was the result of the groundswell of concern over the damage being caused to our environment by waste and single-use plastics. This is only the beginning of the paradigm shift toward zero waste happening in New Jersey, across the U.S., and around the world. In the next part of our ReThink Disposable Blog Series, we will take a look at state policies in the works that will move us ever closer toward a zero waste future.

It’s spring in Minnesota, and starting or re-starting a compost pile is a great project that will reduce waste in your home and improve the quality of your garden soil.

Here are some easy tips to get composting this year:

• If you don’t have a compost bin yet, check with your county or city. You can usually purchase a bin directly from the county.
• There are also some great YouTube tutorials if you want to build a compost bin from scratch.

DO Compost: