NJ A5852

Requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to regulate scrap metal facilities as recycling centers within 18 months, subjecting them to the same permitting and oversight requirements as other recycling facilities

Mandates all scrap metal facility owners/operators register with DEP within one year, paying a $700 annual registration fee and providing operational details including daily volume, processing methods, and existing approvals

Imposes specific safety requirements on facilities operating shredders, including fire suppression systems with 25-foot buffer zones, dust control technologies, impervious surfaces for residue storage, and protocols to prevent shredding of lithium-ion batteries

Establishes that violations constitute violations of the Solid Waste Management Act, with penalties including fourth-degree criminal charges and civil penalties up to $10,000 for knowingly providing false information

DEP authorized to hire new civil service employees to implement the program, contingent on legislative appropriation of sufficient funds