Toy Association Advocacy Leads to EPR Bill Amendment in New Jersey

new jerseyJanuary 17, 2025 | The Toy Association’s proactive approach to legislative advocacy continues to protect toy companies from unnecessary regulatory burdens. During a hearing that took place on Monday, January 13 regarding New Jersey Senate Bill 3398 — also known as the Packaging Product Stewardship Act — Senator Bob Smith, Senate Environment and Energy committee chair and sponsor of the legislation, acknowledged that one of his proposed amendments was a direct result of advocacy efforts from The Toy Association.

During the hearing, Chairman Smith noted that the changes to Section 6 of the bill, which clarify and standardize single-use packaging measurements — specifically, the “average weight of packaging per product sold” — were made in response to concerns raised by The Toy Association. These adjustments aim to provide uniformity throughout the bill, ensuring a fair and practical approach to compliance for businesses of all sizes.

“This is just one example of how The Toy Association works behind the scenes to protect our members from overly burdensome legislation,” said Owen Caine, vice president of government affairs at The Toy Association. “By advocating for necessary adjustments to language before a bill is signed into law, we’re looking out for the interests of our members while supporting practical regulatory solutions."

The Packaging Product Stewardship Act would establish a statewide extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for packaging and paper, shifting recycling costs from municipalities to producers and requiring companies to fund recycling initiatives.

Following the hearing, Chairman Smith held the bill for further consideration and announced that he anticipates a committee vote on its release in February.

Members may contact Owen Caine, vice president of government affairs at The Toy Association, with any questions.