How to Obtain a New Jersey License for Solid Waste Disposal

The collection, transportation and disposal of solid waste in the state of New Jersey require a license that is issued by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, also known as the NJDEP. A license is required in part due to the hazardous nature of some solid wastes and strict guidelines on handling and disposing of the water.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Phone access
• Estimated weight of transporting vehicles and expected weight of waste
• Number of vehicles in transport fleet

1. Determine the number of vehicles in your disposal fleet, as well as the combined gross weight of each vehicle. Some businesses may be required to also provide an estimate of the weight of solid waste that they expect to transport. Homeowners can also transport solid waste if approved by the Department of Environmental Protection.
   
   Read the specific requirements and weight designations to determine which type of license you will need to get. (See the Resources section below for the PDF file of the DEP guide.)

2. Contact the Licensing and Registration department for the NJDEP, using the following contact information, to apply for a license and get specific information relevant to your solid waste disposal needs:
   
   Address:
   
   NJDEP
   Bureau of Solid Waste Compliance & Enforcement
   PO Box 407
   Trenton, NJ 08625-0407
   
   Phone: [phone]
   E-mail: [e-mail]

3. Fill out all applicable forms, including the initial solid waste disposal registration form (see Resources section below). You may also be required to fill out an application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, depending on how the department designates your solid waste disposal needs.
   
   Contact the Economic Regulation Unit at [phone] to determine if you need this additional certificate before filling out the initial application form.

4. Apply provided decals to all vehicles that have been registered for disposal use. Contact the NJDEP if you need to register additional vehicles or have an increase in transportation weights and frequency.

Tips & Warnings

• Calculate the number of vehicles in your fleet and gross weight before beginning the application process. Affix any decals required to the driver's side area of the windshield, since most check-in stations have the attendant window on the driver's side.
• Do not simply arrive at the disposal site. New Jersey law requires registration for transport and disposal in advance of the actual disposal time.

References

• NJDEP Licensing and Registration

Resources

• Solid Waste Transport Quick Guide PDF
• Solid Waste Disposal Initial Application for License