How New Jersey Is Leading the Way in Waste and Recycling Toward Zero Waste Goals

As environmental challenges mount and landfills reach capacity, New Jersey is positioning itself as a leader in sustainable waste management. With a combination of forward-thinking legislation, enhanced waste and recycling infrastructure, stronger community engagement, and trailblazing public-private partnerships, the Garden State is making serious progress toward its goal of zero waste—diverting at least 90% of all discarded materials away from landfills and incinerators.

What Is Zero Waste?

Zero waste isn’t just a sustainability buzzword—it’s a systemic redesign of how materials are created, used, and disposed of. The philosophy aims to maximize resource recovery and minimize waste, shifting away from the traditional linear economy (take-make-dispose) and moving toward a circular model, where materials are continuously reused, repurposed, or regenerated.

In New Jersey, this has led to:

• Retrofitting outdated recycling facilities for more efficient sorting and contamination prevention

• Increasing cooperation among municipalities to share resources and data

• Encouraging manufacturers to adopt eco-friendly product designs and packaging practices that reduce waste before it starts

The result? A cleaner, more resource-efficient ecosystem that benefits both the environment and the economy.

Tackling Food Waste: A Statewide Priority

Food waste accounts for up to 30% of all waste in the U.S., and New Jersey is taking serious steps to combat this problem. The Food Waste Recycling Law (2020) targets large food generators—including hospitals, colleges, supermarkets, and prisons—mandating them to divert food waste from landfills if a processing facility exists within 25 miles.

Approved recycling methods include:

• Composting to create nutrient-rich soil amendments for agriculture and landscaping

• Anaerobic digestion, which breaks down organic matter in oxygen-free environments to produce biogas (a renewable energy source) and digestate (a usable fertilizer)

• Food rescue programs that collect surplus food and redistribute it to food banks and shelters, addressing hunger and waste simultaneously

These efforts not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions (particularly methane, which is 25x more potent than CO₂) but also support job creation in the green economy.

Improving Recycling Infrastructure

New Jersey was one of the first states to enact mandatory recycling laws, starting in 1987. Today, the state continues to innovate by:

• Investing in single-stream recycling upgrades to make recycling easier for residents while maintaining quality

• Expanding access to curbside programs, drop-off stations, and recycling convenience centers

• Providing uniform recycling bins and better signage to reduce contamination

• Running statewide campaigns on how to properly sort materials like glass, metal, paper, and cardboard

By reinforcing infrastructure and community education, more materials are successfully recycled and reintroduced into the manufacturing loop.

Cutting Down on Packaging & Plastics

To curb plastic pollution—especially in waterways—New Jersey passed one of the nation’s most comprehensive bans on single-use plastics in 2022. This law:

• Prohibits plastic bags in all retail establishments

• Limits paper bags in grocery stores larger than 2,500 sq. ft.

• Bans expanded polystyrene foam containers, a major environmental hazard due to its difficulty to recycle

The policy encourages the use of:

• Reusable bags, boxes, and containers

• Certified plastic bag recycling stations are available at designated collection points

• Refillable packaging programs for personal care and cleaning products

Since the ban, plastic bag litter has declined significantly, and consumer behavior has shifted toward more sustainable alternatives.

Public Education & Community Programs

Behavior change is key to successful recycling. That’s why New Jersey supports a wide range of educational programs and incentives:

• Town-specific recycling guides tailored to what’s accepted locally

• “Recycle Right NJ”, an initiative that demystifies recycling rules and addresses myths (e.g., “wish-cycling”)

• “Sustainable Jersey” certification for towns and schools that implement green practices

• Composting workshops, school programs, and social media campaigns to spread awareness

• Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) models that charge households based on the amount of waste generated—an effective way to encourage reduction and proper sorting

Informed communities are empowered communities—and the result is cleaner neighborhoods, better recycling rates, and less waste overall.

Business Partnerships & Innovation

Businesses play a critical role in the zero-waste journey. Across New Jersey, companies are:

• Collaborating with food waste processors to divert organics from the trash

• Installing bulk refill stations in retail stores to cut packaging waste

• Investing in green packaging made from biodegradable or post-consumer recycled materials

• Participating in product take-back programs, especially for electronics and hazardous waste

Some manufacturers are now creating products using up to 80% recycled content, contributing to a closed-loop production cycle. These innovations not only reduce environmental impact but often cut costs and enhance brand reputation.

What’s Next for New Jersey?

New Jersey’s zero waste journey is far from over. Future plans include:

• Piloting new styrofoam recycling technologies to tackle difficult materials

• Expanding composting infrastructure for both residential and commercial use

• Increasing grant funding for municipal recycling improvements

• Launching more local “recycling near me” directories to make disposal easier for residents

• Supporting recycled material markets, making it profitable for companies to use reclaimed materials

With state backing and grassroots momentum, New Jersey is set to become a national model for sustainable waste management.

New Jersey is proving that sustainability isn’t just a goal—it’s a collective effort that involves every household, business, and policymaker. Whether you're separating your organics, bringing a reusable bag to the store, or helping a neighbor understand what goes in the blue bin, your actions matter.

Together, we can build a zero-waste New Jersey—one where innovation, education, and responsibility converge to protect our environment for future generations.

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🌿 About ReGenesis Materials

As a Class A recycling facility based in Voorhees, NJ, ReGenesis Materials processes high-volume recyclables like cardboard, aluminum, paper, plastic, and glass. We partner with municipalities, haulers, and businesses to ensure material recovery is clean, compliant, and sustainable.

Interested in a recycling partnership or educational outreach? Contact us today to schedule a site tour or set up a program for your building, office park, or community.