Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee Statement to Assembly, No. 5357 (2025)

Summary

An Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee statement to Assembly, No. 5357, State of New Jersey, dated March 6, 2025, reporting the bill favorably with committee amendments. The bill would direct the Department of Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, to create a voluntary program to collect, transport and dispose of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers owned by commercial farms. The DEP would place collection sites in diverse regions and offer at least two collection events per year at each site, and the Department of Agriculture would run a public education campaign for farmers. The bill would take effect on the 180th day after enactment.

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ASSEMBLY COMMERCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND AGRICULTURE
COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY,
No. 5357

with
committee amendments

STATE
OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH
6, 2025

The Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and
Agriculture Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly
Bill No. 5357.

This bill, as amended by the committee, would direct
the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in consultation with the
Department of Agriculture, to create a farm pesticide, herbicide, and
fertilizer collection and disposal program to collect, transport, and dispose
of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers held or owned by commercial farms.
Participation in the program by commercial farms would be voluntary.

In implementing the program, the DEP would: (1)
strategically place collection sites in diverse regions of the State; (2) offer
at least two collection events per year in each collection site; (3) contract
with, and provide oversight of, entities qualified to safely collect and
dispose of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, and their containers; and
(4) appoint local agents or representatives to inventory pesticides,
herbicides, and fertilizers, and their containers collected and disposed of or
recycled through the program. The DEP would also be required to develop and
publish an annual report that provides information about the program.

The Department of Agriculture, acting in consultation
with the DEP, would establish a cooperative public education and awareness
campaign to inform farmers about: (1) the location of collection sites, and
dates of upcoming collection events; (2) the types of pesticides, herbicides,
and fertilizers and their containers accepted under the program; (3) the
benefits of the program for farmers; and (4) the environmental benefits of the
program. This information would be posted on the Department of Agriculture’s
Internet website and would be updated as necessary. The bill would take effect
on the 180th day after the date of enactment.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS :

The committee amendments to the bill:

(1) expand the scope of the program to include
herbicides and fertilizers, in addition to pesticides; and

(2) require the DEP to submit an annual report about
the program to the Governor and the Legislature.

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