Today, Governor Murphy conditionally vetoed the Food Waste bill (S4039/A3726). This bill intended for large food waste generators to separate, and recycle food waste. Unfortunately, the exemptions and carve-outs for landfills and incinerators to accept food-waste undermine what could be a better case scenario. Clean Water Action State Director, Amy Goldsmith, applauds Governor Murphy’s actions and suggested changes.

“This is an important victory for climate justice and recycling. Common sense alone dictates that burying and burning food waste is an inferior option and not the same as recycling and composting. The Governor’s conditional veto of S4309/A3726, supported by its sponsors, clarifies this and legislative intent to get food waste out of the solid waste stream and put it into productive reuse. The CV also offers greater protections for environmental justice communities, like Newark, who already bear the unequal burden of being exposed to deadly and climate changing air pollution from its nearby incinerator.”

A link to the Governor’s release

A link to the CV

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Clean Water Action has more than 150,000 members statewide in New Jersey and is the nation’s largest grassroots group focused on water, energy and environmental health. Since our founding during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972, Clean Water Action has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solution-oriented thinking and people power to the table. We will protect clean water in the face of attacks from a polluter friendly Administration and Congress. www.cleanwater.org/nj