Requires certain State-funded construction projects to utilize plastic construction materials that contain certain amounts of postconsumer recycled content.
Summary
Assembly Bill 454 would require certain State-funded construction projects carried out by the State, counties, or municipalities to use plastic construction materials with specified levels of postconsumer recycled content. The bill applies only to plastic construction materials, defined as materials made of more than 50 percent plastic by cost, and it would phase in the requirement over time: at least 10 percent postconsumer recycled content for qualifying materials purchased before two years after the bill’s effective date, and at least 15 percent thereafter.
The bill also defines key terms such as construction material, construction project, governmental entity, and postconsumer recycled content, and it directs the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to adopt implementing rules and regulations. It would take effect immediately, but the purchasing requirements would begin one year after enactment. The measure is intended to steer public construction procurement toward recycled-content plastic products while allowing flexibility for project-specific needs.
Impact
The bill would add a new chapter of procurement and material-content requirements to Title 13 of the Revised Statutes for State-funded construction projects. In practice, it would affect State agencies as well as county and municipal projects that receive State funding, requiring them to specify recycled-content plastic materials unless an exemption applies. The bill creates two main exemptions: if compliance would raise the overall project cost by 25 percent, or if compliant materials are unavailable for the intended use or in sufficient quantity. It would also require DEP rulemaking to implement the standards.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of legislative debate or formal support/opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears environmentally oriented and designed to promote recycling markets in public construction. The inclusion of cost and availability exemptions suggests an effort to balance environmental goals with practical procurement concerns.
Contention
The main likely points of contention are cost, supply availability, and project feasibility. Supporters would likely emphasize waste reduction, recycled-content markets, and sustainable public procurement, while opponents or cautious stakeholders may focus on the potential for higher costs, limited product availability, and the administrative burden of verifying recycled content. The bill’s 25 percent cost-increase exemption and availability carveouts indicate that these issues are central to the measure’s design.
Carry Over
Requires certain State-funded construction projects to utilize plastic construction materials that contain certain amounts of postconsumer recycled content.
Carry Over
Requires certain State-funded construction projects to utilize plastic construction materials that contain certain amounts of postconsumer recycled content.
Same As
Requires certain State-funded construction projects to utilize plastic construction materials that contain certain amounts of postconsumer recycled content.