To mark America Recycles Day on November 15, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection reminded residents that regular recycling helps protect the environment and conserve natural resources.
“New Jersey has been a national leader in recycling for more than 30 years because we recognize the positive impacts recycling has on our environment, economy and efforts to protect and conserve natural resources,” says Francis Steitz, Acting Assistant Commissioner for Air Quality, Energy and Sustainability. “We remind the public that recycling keeps communities clean, safeguards public health, and improves the overall quality of life.”
In 1987, New Jersey became the first state to make recycling mandatory, adopting the Statewide Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act. The law requires recycling in residential, commercial, and institutional settings. New Jersey achieved an overall recycling rate of 61 percent in 2016 – the most recent year for which data is available – and remains a national leader in recycling. The DEP administers several grant and educational programs on recycling.
To learn more about recycling in New Jersey, click here.
