List of Materials Mandated to be Source Separated and Recycled in Morris County 2007 (PDF).  Please download, print, pay attention to and distribute this document to anyone that lives or works in Morris County. Recycling of these materials is the law in Morris County.

Contents
Click here to download a 14 MB PDF of this Plan Amendment.

• Plan Home

• Introduction

1. Compliance with State Plan 

2. Attainment of the Mandated Municipal Solid Waste Recycling Goal

3. Existing and Proposed Morris County Source Reduction, Recycling and Waste Diversion  Programs

4. Source Separation

5. Materials Mandated to be Source Separated and Recycled

6. Additional Materials

7. Materials That are No Longer Designated to be Source Separated and Recycled

8. Enforcement Program

9. Municipal Responsibilities

Appendices

1. Morris County Solid Waste Generation - Plan Implementation Ten-Year Projection

2. Morris CountyGenerated Disposal Tonnages by Year for 1995-2006 - MCMUA  - Parsippany and Mt. Olive Transfer Stations Combined as Compared to NJDEP Data

3. Inventory of Morris County Solid Waste Facilities

4. Guidelines for Evaluation of Solid Waste Facility Requests to be Included in  the Morris County Solid Waste Management Plan

5. Enforcement Documentation

6. Sample Model Municipal Planning Board Recycling Ordinance for Multifamily Housing Developments That Require Subdivisions or Site Plan Approval

7. Sample Recycling Status Report for Generators

Tables

1. Morris County Recycling Rates 1995 - 2004

2. Morris County Total Solid Waste Generation - Ten-Year Projection from 2004 Base Year

3. Recycling and Disposal Data (State Plan, Table B-1)

4. Municipal Solid Waste - Status Quo Projection Based on Population Increases

5. National Municipal Solid Waste Generation Rates According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)

6. Additional Tonnage to be Extracted from the Municipal Solid Waste Stream for Recycling by 2015

7. Municipal Recycling Programs

8. Materials Mandated to be Source Separated and Recycled Morris County, New Jersey

9. Additional Materials Recommended to be Included in Municipal Waste Management Programs

10. Solid Waste Activities Inspection Checklist

Solid Waste Management
Plan Amendment
Morris County, New Jersey

Response to the January 2006 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Solid Waste Management and Sludge Management State Plan Update - March 2007

5. Materials Mandated to be Source Separated and Recycled

Morris County has designated a list of materials that are mandated to be source separated and recycled. This means that all of the materials as defined in the list that are generated within Morris County's borders by any and all generators, must be kept separate from solid waste (garbage) at the point when and where it is generated, and then the materials must be recycled. At no time are these mandated materials to be mixed with solid waste. These materials are therefore banned from the county's disposal system which currently includes two transfer stations and out-of-state landfills.

A generator is any one who generates the material. Some examples of generators are residents in single and multifamily homes (apartments and condominium complexes), employees at businesses, teachers and students in schools, occupants of hotels, shoppers in malls, etc. In the case of a multigenerator building, (i.e., apartment building, office complex, hotel, etc.), the generator, building owner and the building management shall all be responsible for compliance with county and municipally mandated material source separation requirements. The building owner and the building management shall be considered generators in this case.

The county will mandate materials to be recycled only if recycling markets are available for those materials. Markets are currently available for all of the materials designated in this Plan Amendment and therefore are mandated effective immediately upon the certification of Plan Amendment. If market demand disappears for any of these materials, the county may elect to delete those materials from the mandated list. Likewise, additional materials may be added as recycling markets develop and expand.

According to N.J.S.A. 13:1E-99.14 Contracts for recycling services:

"a. Each county shall, within six months of the adoption and approval by the department of the district recycling plan required pursuant to section 3 of this amendatory and supplementary act, solicit proposals from, review the qualifications of, and enter into contracts or agreements on behalf of municipalities with persons providing recycling services or operating recycling centers for the collection, storage, processing, and disposition of recyclable materials designated in the district recycling plan in those instances where these services are not otherwise provided by the municipality, interlocal service agreement or joint service program, or other private or public recycling program operator."

Further, according to N.J.S.A. 13:1E-99.16.6.a., "Each municipality shall provide for a collection system for the recycling of the recyclable materials designated in this Plan in those instances where a recycling collection system is not otherwise provided for by the generator or by the county, interlocal service agreement or joint service program, or other private or public recycling program operator."

The list of county mandated materials represents the minimum requirements for residential, business and institutions in Morris County. Individual municipalities may mandate additional materials.

Table 8 contains the new list of mandated recyclable materials for Morris County. This list will supersede the list of mandated recyclable materials in the February 1993 Morris County Solid Waste Plan Update. The materials in Table 8 are mandated to be source separated and recycled at the point of generation by any and all generators within Morris County. The only exception on the list is that whole tires may, in addition to being recycled, be incinerated for energy recovery.

These materials, as named, along with their definitions, shall be included verbatim in each municipal ordinance. This list of materials and their definitions will replace the existing list of materials. Any additional materials which a municipality mandates to be source separated and recycled will remain unaffected. The purpose of the requirement to include the materials, as named, and their definitions verbatim is to create consistency throughout the county.

Table 8

The following section explains the changes made to each of the material categories, if any, since the 1993 Plan Amendment.

Newspaper - There is no change to the source separation requirement for Newspaper. This material remains mandatory for all generators to source separate and recycle.

Corrugated Cardboard - In the 1993 Plan Amendment, this material was referred to as "Corrugated." The term Corrugated Cardboard better explains type of material defined. There is no change to the source separation requirement for Corrugated Cardboard. It continues to be mandatory for all generators to source separate and recycle this material.

Mixed Paper - There is no change to the source separation requirement for Mixed Paper. It continues to be mandatory for all generators to source separate and recycle this material.

Aluminum Cans - In the 1993 Plan Amendment, this material was referred to as "Aluminum," and the intent was that it meant Aluminum Cans. The word "Cans" has been added to clarify the intent. Aluminum foil and aluminum pie plates are not included in this material. Otherwise, there is no change to the source separation requirement for Aluminum Cans. It continues to be mandatory for all generators to source separate and recycle this material.

Plastic Bottles coded 1 and 2 - In the 1993 Plan Amendment, this material was referred to as "Plastic Containers." It has since been learned that markets exist primarily for PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate) and HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) plastic bottles (coded number 1 and number 2, respectively). See the symbols that follow. The word "Containers" has been replaced with the phrase "Bottles coded 1 and 2" to clarify that only bottles with the codes 1 and 2 as shown below are included in this material category, and other plastic bottles and containers are not. A bottle is defined as a receptacle having a narrow neck and a mouth that can be corked or capped. Otherwise, there is no change to the source separation requirement for Plastic Bottles coded 1 and 2. It continues to be mandatory for all generators to source separate and recycle this material.

Polyethylene Terephthalate: High Density Polyethylene:

Glass Bottles and Jars - In the 1993 Plan Amendment, this material was referred to as "Glass Containers," and the intent was that meant Glass Bottles and Jars. The phrase "Bottles and Jars" has been added to clarify the intent. For example, drinking glasses and Pyrex® containers are not included in this material. Otherwise, there is no change to the source separation requirement for Glass Bottles and Jars. It continues to be mandatory for all generators to source separate and recycle this material.

Steel Cans - In the 1993 Plan Amendment, this material was referred to as "Ferrous Containers." It is now felt that a more recognizable term to describe this material is Steel Cans. Otherwise, there is no change to the source separation requirement for Steel Cans. It continues to be mandatory for all generators to source separate and recycle this material.

Leaves - In the 1993 Plan Amendment, this material was referred to as "Yard Waste." Leaves has been included as a separate item, in lieu of the broader term "Yard Waste," in order to differentiate between leaves and other organic material that is generated outdoors. Otherwise, there is no change to the source separation requirement for Leaves. It continues to be mandatory for all generators to source separate and recycle this material.

Grass - In the 1993 Plan Amendment, this material was referred to as "Yard Waste." Grass has been included as a separate item, in lieu of the broader term "Yard Waste," in order to differentiate between grass and other organic material that is generated outdoors. Otherwise, there is no change to the source separation requirement for Grass. It continues to be mandatory for all generators to source separate and recycle this material.

Brush - In the 1993 Plan Amendment, this material was referred to as "Yard Waste." Brush has been included as a separate item, in lieu of the broader term "Yard Waste," in order to differentiate between brush and other organic material that is generated outdoors. Otherwise, there is no change to the source separation requirement for Brush. It continues to be mandatory for all generators to source separate and recycle this material.

Lead-Acid Batteries - In the 1993 Plan Amendment, this material was referred to as "Vehicular Batteries." The term Lead-Acid Batteries better explains type of material defined. Otherwise, there is no change to the source separation requirement for Lead-Acid Batteries. It continues to be mandatory for all generators to source separate and recycle this material.

Metal Appliances - In the 1993 Plan Amendment, this material was referred to as "White Goods." It is now felt that a more recognizable term to describe this material is Metal Appliances. Otherwise, there is no change to the source separation requirement for Metal Appliances. It continues to be mandatory for all generators to source separate and recycle this material.

Used Motor Oil - In the 1993 Plan Amendment, this material was referred to as "Motor Oil." The term was changed slightly to Used Motor Oil to more clearly indicate that this is motor oil which has been used. Otherwise, there is no change to the source separation requirement for Used Motor Oil. It continues to be mandatory for all generators to source separate and recycle this material.

Oil Contaminated Soil – There is no change to the source separation requirement for Oil-Contaminated Soil. It continues to be mandatory for all generators to source separate and recycle this material.

Natural Wood Waste - In the 1993 Plan Amendment, this material was referred to as "Stumps," and the remarks indicated that the term Stumps included "logs, branches, natural wood waste." A more inclusive term to describe this material is Natural Wood Waste, which includes stumps logs and branches and other wood tree parts. Otherwise, there is no change to the source separation requirement for Natural Wood Waste. It continues to be mandatory for all generators to source separate and recycle this material.

Hazardous Dry Cell Batteries - In the 1993 Plan Amendment, this material was referred to as "Household Batteries." The term Hazardous Dry Cell Batteries better explains the material defined. This category has been modified slightly and now allows non-hazardous dry cell batteries to be disposed as MSW. Circa 1994, most non-rechargeable dry cell batteries became non-hazardous when the battery industry removed most of the mercury contained in the dry cell. If the industry continues to change the formulation of dry cell batteries, rechargeable and/or non-rechargeable, the determination of whether or not the battery must be source separated and recycled is based on whether or not it is hazardous.

Whole Tires - In the 1993 Plan Amendment, this material was referred to as "Tires." The category is now renamed Whole Tires to differentiate between whole tires and chipped tires. Chipped tires are excluded from this definition. Another change with this Plan Amendment regarding whole tires is that whole tires are allowed to be incinerated for energy recovery. Whole Tires are not acceptable at the transfer station for disposal since whole tires are not allowed for disposal at landfills, due to the fact that they tend to resurface after having been buried. Whole Tires are, however, allowed to be incinerated for energy recovery (waste-to-energy) or as a tire-derived fuel (TDF). Waste-to-energy is considered by the NJDEP to a "beneficial use." The category "beneficial use" is a separate and distinct waste handling method from recycling and is therefore not considered to be recycling. Therefore, Whole Tires are an exception on this list of designated materials in that all of the materials on this list must be recycled. Whole Tires must either be recycled or incinerated for energy recovery as a beneficial use.