WHAT IS THE SWPG?

The Solid Waste Policy Group at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (SWPG) is an initiative designed to coordinate resources at Rutgers University and across the State to address real life solid waste issues. The SWPG was created to identify actions to help prevent future waste problems that may negatively impact on the quality of life, and to help inform New Jersey’s solid waste decision-makers about policy options for enhanced environmental and economic solid waste management. Using Rutgers as a base a neutral forum for policy visioning and for coordinated research by technical and policy experts, economists, social scientists and stakeholders.

The SWPG was a response to a court decision which threw the state’s solid waste management systems into turmoil by invalidating New Jersey’s system of allowing counties to exercise "flow control" over waste originating within their boundaries. The initiative also recognizes the emerging demographics of the state as they impact solid waste: Over the last several years, increasingly there have been media reports on the population growth which New Jersey can expect. It is clear that both population growth and the change in landscape from rural to upscale suburban will steer consumption habits towards increased convenience and rapid disposability. Moreover, with the closing of Fresh Kills Landfill, the bulk of New York City solid waste can be expected to flow into or across New Jersey, in an amount roughly equal to the amount generated already by our entire state. All of this will translate into increased solid waste generation, which will require more efficient management of the waste.

The SWPG has been influential in shaping practical solid waste policy across the state, particularly in its two most active project areas, the diversion of food waste generated by commercial and institutional entities and the diversion of spent computers, fluorescent light bulbs, and mercury-containing devices. In both these areas, SWPG has worked with government, recyclers and generators alike, creating the connections which redirect these wastes from a landfill or incinerator setting, to an alternative setting that can mitigate the possible environmental hazards they could cause. The SWPG is also actively working with governmental and private representatives to draft new legislation and promote regulatory changes in these two areas.

SWPG maintains this website and an email distribution list, which serve as vital communication methods for members of the solid waste community.

SWPG has received seed funding from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the (Mid-Atlantic) Food Policy Research and Outreach Institute, the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, PSEG, Enviro-Feed of New Jersey, Wakefern Food Corporation (Shop Rite), and Advanced Recovery.