New Jersey Assembly Bill A1760

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/11/22
• Refer: 1/11/22

Caption

Requires provision in municipal solid waste collection contracts to hold bidder responsible for collection of solid waste.

Impact

The enactment of Bill A1760 would necessitate adjustments in how municipalities approach solid waste contracts. By mandating that bidders take on full responsibility, the bill could lead to better service delivery, as contractors cannot delegate their duties to subcontractors. It may also reduce the complexity of enforcing contract terms, thus potentially leading to a higher quality of waste management services across municipalities. However, this could also raise concerns about the availability of bid winners, as some contractors may not have the resources to fulfill these obligations independently.

Summary

Bill A1760, introduced in the New Jersey Assembly, aims to enhance responsibility in municipal solid waste management by requiring that contracts for solid waste collection hold the bid winner solely accountable for waste collection. The legislation amends existing statutes regarding municipal contracts to ensure that no subcontractors can be utilized for solid waste collection services. This provision is intended to streamline accountability, ensuring that the municipality has a direct contractual relationship with the service provider responsible for waste management duties.

Contention

One point of contention surrounding Bill A1760 is the prohibition of subcontractors for solid waste collection. Critics may argue that this restricts smaller firms or specialized companies from participating in the bid process, fearing that larger entities could dominate the market by being the only contractors able to comply with the stringent guidelines. Additionally, the requirement could lead to increased contract prices, as contractors would need to internalize all aspects of waste collection without delegating responsibilities. This introduces a potential debate over the balance between fostering competition and ensuring responsible waste management.