This bill requires the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to engage a qualified consultant through a competitive bidding process to perform a Statewide needs assessment on the recycling, composting, and reuse of packaging products. An appropriation of $500,000 is allocated for this assessment, which will analyze current recycling conditions, identify gaps, and evaluate the capacity and costs related to packaging recycling. The consultant must provide a draft needs assessment to the newly formed Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment Advisory Council by December 31, 2026, with the final report due to the DEP by May 1, 2027, and subsequently to the Governor and Legislature by June 1, 2027.

The bill also establishes the Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment Advisory Council within the DEP, composed of members appointed by the DEP commissioner, ensuring diverse representation from stakeholders such as material recovery facilities, haulers, local governments, and environmental organizations. The council's duties include guiding the needs assessment, reviewing packaging legislation from other states, and recommending a producer responsibility program for packaging. The council will be dissolved 30 days after submitting the final needs assessment, which aims to improve the state's recycling efforts through expert recommendations and insights.