This bill proposes to exempt community gardens that operate on-site composting systems from the requirement to obtain permits from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under several existing environmental laws, including the "Solid Waste Management Act," the "New Jersey Statewide Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act," the "Air Pollution Control Act," and the "Water Pollution Control Act." The exemption is contingent upon specific conditions: the property must be exclusively used as a community garden, the composting system can only utilize vegetative waste generated by the garden, and all compost produced must be used on-site for the community garden.

The bill defines a community garden as any piece of land, whether publicly or privately owned, that is maintained and cultivated by members of the surrounding community. If enacted, this legislation would facilitate composting practices within community gardens, promoting sustainability and reducing regulatory burdens for these local initiatives. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.