Top 5 Things We are Watching in 2022

Rules, Rules, Rules

Lots of promised rulemaking coming from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection this year to implement Governor Murphy’s environmental priorities.  The heavy-hitting list includes amendments to land use regulations to improve resiliency across the State, new regulations needed to implement the 2020 law which would allow the agency to amend or modify some permits if they impact environmental justice communities, and food waste recycling regulations.  It will not be easy to change the way we do business in the Garden State, but the climate crisis provides no alternative.

Clean Energy Legislation

A move to codify and broaden Governor Murphy’s clean energy goals, including around electricity production, electric vehicles and mass transit, and linking all that renewable electricity to our aging grid.  One thing that should be prioritized in all the clean energy work is investment in communities most impacted by air pollution and community-based energy planning.

Hybrid Public Meetings

The emergence of COVID-19 variances,  plus the flexibility afforded by online options, means that virtual convenings are not going to be going away and will likely be a permanent fixture of public life.  However, care must be taken to ensure meaningful public participation through open comment periods during the meetings, timely notifications, and opportunities to provide comments outside of the online forum, such as through email or other written communication.

Reducing Food Waste

As municipalities look to move forward on zero waste goals, it is obvious that managing food waste will be critical.  A new law in New Jersey mandates food waste recycling but new food scrap composting facilities, both large and community-based, will need to come online to ensure the successful implementation of the law and State agencies will need to provide the guidance and support to make that happen.

Bag Ban

Start the habit now to bring your own bags to stores!  Beginning in May, New Jersey’s ban on single-use carryout bags and polystyrene foam food service products takes effect.  Currently, single-use plastic straws are available upon request in restaurants, but we are seeing inconsistency in compliance.  Changing human behavior is hard, but as more people sign onto sustainable habits waste going to landfills and incinerators will decrease.