New Jersey § 48:13a-7

§ 48:13a-7.

The Legislature finds and declares that the collection of solid waste is an activity

thoroughly affected with the public interest; that the health, safety and welfare

of the people of this State require efficient and reasonable solid waste collection

services; and that efficient solid waste collection services at competitive rates

will more likely be achieved if the solid waste collection industry is under the supervision

of, but not subject to traditional public utility rate regulation by, the Board of

Public Utilities. The Legislature further finds and declares that it is imperative that the State ensure

the economic viability and competitiveness of the solid waste collection industry

in order to safeguard the integrity of the State's long-term solid waste management

strategy; that it is equally imperative to safeguard the interests of consumers as

well as the interests of those providing solid waste collection services; that to

provide for ratepayer and consumer protection it is necessary to foster competition

within the industry and to establish a responsible State supervisory role to ensure

safe, adequate and proper solid waste collection service at competitive rates; and

that to achieve these ends in the most efficient and reasonable manner, it is necessary

to establish procedures for regulatory reform and the eventual termination of traditional

public utility rate regulation of the solid waste collection industry. The Legislature further finds and declares that the Legislature through enactment

of P.L.1983, c. 392 ( C. 13:1E-126 et seq. ) has established a licensing system which is designed to prevent persons with criminal

backgrounds from engaging in the solid waste collection business, thereby promoting

free and open competition within the solid waste collection industry; and that terminating

traditional public utility rate regulation of the solid waste collection industry

can be achieved without compromising the State's role in protecting the public interest. The Legislature therefore determines that it is in the public interest to establish

procedures for the eventual termination of public utility rate regulation of solid

waste collectors while at the same time maintaining Board of Public Utilities supervision

over the solid waste collection industry.