Dive Brief:

• Lawmakers in Newark, NJ are eyeing a measure that could require all licensed haulers to offer recycling services to customers; and homeowners, landlords and tenants to contract with companies for waste collection. 
• The proposal would update the city's current ordinance for municipal waste and recycling. Buildings with four or less units would be affected by the new proposal if it is adopted. Currently, commercial solid waste rules dictate that rental properties with five or more units require a waste bin. 
• Newark has five providers who are licensed to haul trash within the city limits. All but one already have recycling services in place.

Dive Insight:

The major flaw with the proposal is that the law fails to dictate exactly who is responsible for contracting these services in apartment homes: the renters or the property owners. "One or the other. It doesn’t matter who," City Law Director Doug Sassen said. "You have to work it out amongst yourselves."

This sounds like it could potentially cause heated debate among renters and landlords, and probably lead to a substantial amount of outstanding balances. It seems difficult to track and enforce. If non-payment occurs, the hauler will remove the container at that residence within seven days. Cities already have trouble collecting outstanding bills, resulting in lost revenue totaling millions of dollars. 

A final decision regarding the proposal will occur in the beginning of August.