The New Jersey Senate Environment and Energy Committee convened on April 23, 2025, to discuss significant advancements and challenges in composting and food waste management across the state. The meeting highlighted the ongoing efforts to improve composting practices, particularly in municipalities like Montclair and Maplewood, which have implemented successful initiatives to reduce waste and promote sustainability.

Key discussions centered around the need for legislative changes to facilitate the establishment of large-scale composting facilities. Christina Picasso Liu from Bivariate Ecologics emphasized the regulatory hurdles faced by composting operations, particularly the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) requirement for food waste composting to occur in enclosed structures. This rule, unique to New Jersey, has been identified as a major barrier to expanding composting capacity, which is crucial for meeting the state's food waste reduction goals.

Matt Wasserman, representing the New Jersey Composting Council, echoed these concerns, noting that despite the Food Waste Recycling Act, food waste sent to landfills has increased by up to 10% over the past five years. He stressed the urgency of developing infrastructure to manage food waste effectively, as existing landfill space is projected to diminish significantly in the coming decade.

The committee also discussed the potential for collaboration with sewage treatment facilities to process food waste, which could alleviate some of the pressure on landfills. Senators encouraged further exploration of partnerships with wastewater treatment authorities to assess their capacity and willingness to handle organic waste.

Overall, the meeting underscored a collective commitment to enhancing composting practices in New Jersey, with participants advocating for legislative support and regulatory reform to foster a more sustainable waste management system. The next steps involve continued dialogue with stakeholders and potential revisions to existing laws to promote open composting and expand processing capabilities statewide.