Recycling in NJ is complicated and troublesome. While Recycling is required, County recycling programs vary with regards to what materials are accepted into the program. Your County recycling program can be found here. Environmental commissions can help communities to reduce waste and reliance on foreign recycling.
Every County and Municipality should have a designated recycling coordinator who is responsible for the county or municipality recycling program. NJ has a number of laws regarding recycling. More information about recycling in NJ can be found here.
State Recycling and Solid Waste Disposal Facts
- For 2021, New Jersey generated 22,116,562 total tons of solid waste (disposal and recycling).
- Municipalities (and in limited instances, counties) reported 12,014,367 tons as recycled, and 10,102,195 tons of solid waste disposed.
- New Jersey achieved an overall recycling rate of 54 percent in 2021, a slight decrease from the 2020 rate of 55 percent.
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