ATTN: All Cumberland County Businesses
RE: Recycling at Your Facility
DATE: January 2026

The Cumberland County Health Department (CCHD) would like to remind you, as a business in Cumberland County and within the State of New Jersey, of your recycling responsibilities.

Please be advised that recycling is the law within the State of New Jersey and has been since 1987. The law requires businesses such as commercial, retail and wholesale restaurants, taverns, clubs, schools, institutions, warehouses, construction sites, factories, government facilities, office buildings, multi-family dwellings (i.e. apartment/condo complexes) and almost any other entity to recycle the byproducts that are generated as a result of their operations.

The state regulations, N.J.A.C 7:26A, promulgated under the New Jersey Solid Waste Management Act, N.J.S.A 13:1E-1 et seq. & NJ Statewide Mandatory Source Separation & Recycling Act, N.J.S.A 13:1E-99.11 et seq. requires that persons generating solid waste within its municipal boundaries are to source separate the recyclable materials (i.e. aluminum & bi-metal cans; glass containers; plastic containers; beverage/food cartons; corrugated cardboard; mixed paper; e-waste/electronics; miscellaneous scrap metal; used oils; antifreeze; batteries; tires; florescent bulbs, etc.) from other waste and have those materials ready for collection (N.J.A.C. 7:26A-10.1 et. seq. & N.J.S.A. 13:1E-99.11).

The CCHD is authorized by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) through the County Environmental Health Act, N.J.S.A 26:3A-2-21 et seq., to be the lead enforcement agency of the Solid Waste & Recycling Program throughout the County. Pursuant to the state regulations, N.J.A.C 7:26A, promulgated under the New Jersey Solid Waste Management Act, N.J.S.A 13:1E-1 et seq., and the NJ Statewide Mandatory Source Separation & Recycling Act (N.J.S.A. 13:1E-99.11), the CCHD can assess a maximum penalty of $3,000.00 to those individuals who are not recycling or are otherwise found in violation of the recycling law.

In lieu of CCHD involvement, each municipality within Cumberland County has enforcement authority delegated by local ordinance pursuant to N.J.A.C 7:26A to regulate the source separation recycling within their municipal boundaries. As such, inspections will take place at your facility by the Municipal Recycling Coordinator/Code Enforcement Official or other designee of the municipality. Non-compliance discovered by the Municipal Designee will result in the issuance of a violation notice, a summons, and/or a penalty by the municipality prescribed in accordance with local ordinance having a lessor penalty amount then those mandated solely under the Act.

Furthermore, the State of New Jersey Recycling Rules (NJAC 7:26A-10.4(a)2) require that businesses generating recyclable materials provide annual written documentation to the municipality of the total number of tons recycled (i.e. tonnage report). Failure to provide this report on a yearly basis can result in the assessment of a $3,000.00 penalty.

If your agency needs to set up a recycling program or feels that they need to improve their current recycling operation, feel free to contact your Local Municipal Recycling Coordinator for assistance.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Sincerely,

Nicole Giacalone

Chief Registered Environmental Health Specialist

Solid Waste & Recycling Compliance & Enforcement