New Jersey packaging and PFAS laws

What it would do: Requires DEP to adopt PFAS drinking water standards no less stringent than EPA's as of January 1, 2026, with specific maximum contaminant levels for five PFAS compounds by April 26, 2029, and establish a Private Well Testing Program providing financial assistance and testing coordination for private wells.

What it would do: Prohibits manufacturers from selling, distributing, or offering for sale menstrual products containing intentionally added PFAS in New Jersey. Requires the Department of Environmental Protection to establish a testing system and approve laboratories for periodic PFAS testing in menstrual products.

What it would do: Amends the definition of 'carpet' in the Protecting Against Forever Chemicals Act to exclude rugs and fabrics intended solely for use inside aircraft, automobiles, light duty trucks, vans, buses, or any other vehicle, thereby exempting them from the act's provisions.

What it would do: Prohibits expenditure of moneys in the Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund or any other Green Acres Fund for the purchase, use, installation, or replacement of artificial turf fields.

What it would do: Prohibits intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in menstrual products and requires the Department of Environmental Protection to establish a testing and laboratory approval system, with violations treated as unlawful practices under the Consumer Fraud Act punishable by up to $10,000 for first offense and $20,000 for subsequent offenses.

What it would do: Requires producers of firefighting personal protective equipment containing intentionally added PFAS to provide written notice to purchasers beginning one year after enactment. Prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of such equipment beginning two years after enactment, with exceptions for non-clothing protective equipment until January 1, 2032.

What it would do: Requires State-funded construction projects to use plastic construction materials containing at least 10 percent postconsumer recycled content for one year after enactment, then 15 percent thereafter, with exemptions for cost increases exceeding 20 percent, unavailable materials, or structural integrity concerns.

What it would do: Prohibits food service businesses from providing single-use plastic utensils and condiments except upon customer request, requires businesses with 50+ on-site seats to provide reusable utensils, and establishes civil penalties of $1,000 to $5,000 for violations.

What it would do: Prohibits sale of cosmetics, carpets, fabric treatments, and food packaging containing intentionally added PFAS beginning two years after enactment. Requires cookware manufacturers to label products containing PFAS. Establishes PFAS source reduction and research programs with $4.52 million appropriation.

What it would do: Beginning two years after the effective date, prohibits any person from selling, offering for sale, manufacturing, or distributing apparel containing intentionally added PFAS in New Jersey, with violations treated as unlawful practices under consumer protection law.

What it would do: Beginning two years after the effective date, prohibits any person from selling, offering for sale, manufacturing, or distributing apparel containing intentionally added PFAS in New Jersey, with violations treated as unlawful practices under consumer protection law.

What it would do: Prohibits manufacturers from selling, distributing, or offering menstrual products containing regulated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in New Jersey. Requires the Department of Environmental Protection to establish a testing system and approve laboratories for manufacturers to periodically test menstrual products for these substances.

What it would do: Prohibits manufacturers from selling, distributing, or offering menstrual products containing regulated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in New Jersey. Requires the Department of Environmental Protection to establish a testing system and the Department of Health to inspect test results.

What it would do: Requires the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct assessments every five years of unregulated PFAS to determine if drinking water standards should be established, and to assess whether current PFAS standards adequately protect children's health.

What it would do: Amends P.L.2020, c.117 to authorize grocery stores to provide single-use paper carryout bags containing at least 40 percent postconsumer recycled content (or 20 percent for bags holding eight pounds or less) to customers, while maintaining the prohibition on single-use plastic carryout bags.

What it would do: Directs the Department of Environmental Protection to select a consultant to conduct a statewide recycling needs assessment for packaging by January 15, 2026, and establishes a temporary advisory council to review the assessment. Appropriates $500,000 for implementation.

What it would do: The Legislature urges the Department of Environmental Protection to use State Recycling Fund monies to research developing a plastics recycling marketplace, and urges the Economic Development Authority to encourage and fund establishing such a marketplace to increase single-use plastics recycling.

What it would do: Requires plastic packaging producers to register with the Department of Environmental Protection, reduce plastic packaging by 10-50 percent over ten years, and eliminate 23 specified toxic substances from covered plastic packaging beginning three years after enactment, with additional toxic substances banned every three years thereafter.

What it would do: This assembly resolution expresses support for limiting discharge of PFAS treatment wastewater into New Jersey surface waters and encourages evaluation and use of alternative disposal methods, including transport to permitted underground injection wells.

What it would do: Reduces the minimum postconsumer recycled content requirement for plastic trash bags equal to or greater than 1.00 mils thick from 40 percent to 20 percent, effective five years after P.L.2021, c.391's effective date.

What it would do: Amends the definition of postconsumer recycled content to include plastic recyclable material derived from renewable biomass, allowing such material to satisfy postconsumer recycled content requirements for containers and packaging products.

What it would do: Permits firefighters in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System to elect special retirement after 20 years of creditable service, or 15 years if over age 50, and receive maximum retirement benefits based on final compensation and years of service.

What it would do: Amends P.L.2020, c.117 to provide permanent exemptions from the polystyrene foam food service product prohibition for meat and fish trays sold from refrigerated retail appliances and food products pre-packaged by manufacturers with polystyrene foam.

What it would do: Beginning six months after enactment, hotels with 50+ rooms cannot provide personal care products in single-use plastic bottles under 6 ounces in sleeping rooms or shared bathrooms; this applies to all hotels after 12 months. Hotels may provide such products only upon express guest request in other locations. Violations incur warnings for first offense and up to $1,500 civil penalties thereafter.

What it would do: Establishes a School Plastics Upcycling Grant Program in the Department of Environmental Protection to provide proportional annual grants to eligible schools based on their pro rata share of collected plastics for purchasing upcycled school furniture; appropriates $5,000,000.