ASSEMBLY SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON INFRASTRUCTURE
AND NATURAL RESOURCES
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 4822
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: MARCH 23, 2023
The Assembly Special Committee on Infrastructure and Natural
Resources reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4822.
This bill would require the Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) to establish and implement a program to provide
rebates to State residents for the purchase of a microfiber washing
machine filter or a replacement microfiber washing machine filter in
order to encourage the purchase of microfiber washing machine filters
and replacement filters and reduce the amount of microfiber pollution
in the State. Under the bill, one-time rebates would be available to any
resident of the State who purchases an eligible microfiber washing
machine filter or replacement filter, as determined by the DEP,
submits a complete application for the rebate, in a manner and form
determined by the DEP, and meets the bill’s requirements. The
amount of the rebate would not exceed the lesser of: (1) the cost of the
microfiber washing machine filter or replacement filter; or (2) $100.
The DEP would be required to determine the types or brands of
microfiber washing machine filters and replacement filters that are
eligible for the rebate, determine the manner and form for residents to
apply for and, if eligible, receive a rebate, and adopt rules and
regulations as necessary to implement the rebate program established
by the bill. The bill would also require the DEP to prepare and submit
an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature. Finally, the bill
would appropriate $2.5 million from the General Fund to the DEP for
the purposes of providing rebates pursuant to the rebate program
established by the bill.