This bill mandates the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to conduct a Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment by selecting a qualified consultant through a competitive bidding process. The assessment will evaluate the current state of recycling, composting, and packaging reuse, identifying gaps, costs, and needs in these areas. To support this initiative, the bill appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund to the DEP. The final assessment must be submitted to the Governor and the Legislature by June 1, 2027, with a draft due to the newly established Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment Advisory Council by December 31, 2026.

Additionally, the bill establishes the Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment Advisory Council within the DEP, composed of members appointed by the DEP commissioner to ensure diverse stakeholder representation. The council will provide guidance on the needs assessment, review packaging legislation from other states, and recommend a producer responsibility program for packaging. The council will be dissolved 30 days after the final needs assessment is submitted, with the aim of enhancing the state's recycling efforts through expert insights and recommendations.