Recycling & Solid Waste Management

These courses are independent from the Recycling Certification Series or the Alternate Program!

NJ Compost Operator Certification Course

Preparing Recycling Tonnage Reports

The New Jersey Recycling Certification Series

New Jersey’s Recycling Enhancement Act (REA) requires that reports or other recycling-related documents be signed/certified by a Certified Recycling Professional (CRP). Since its inception in 1993, the New Jersey Recycling Certification Program has trained over 250 individuals in topics ranging from economics to truck routing and public communication.  In response to the need for CRPs generated by the passage of the Act, the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (formerly the Rutgers-Cook College) Office of Continuing Professional Education (OCPE), in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the Association of New Jersey Recyclers (ANJR) has expanded the program into two tiers, with the type of training program a potential attendee requires determined by a combination of experience, prior training and existing certifications.

The series requirements have been revised to include a four-day “alternate” certification program (and associated exam) to meet the needs of county, municipal or government employees who possess certain levels of experience, training, professional certification or a combination of all three. Those NOT meeting these criteria (outlined below) will be required to complete the full nine class, 21-day program. An updated recertification requirement has also been developed for those who completed the series, but have let their certification lapse.

1. Persons With No Formal Training:
Not in a position:
  • Must complete the full (21-day) program.
Holding a title and with less than ten (10) years experience:
  • Must complete the full (21-day) program.
2. Persons Seeking Recertification (those with lapsed or inactive CRP certification):
  • Must complete the “Application for Certification/Recertification” form to document work experience and recycling-related activities and/or accomplishments (including the date of initial certification).
  • Must attend an offering of “The Recycling Coordinator’s Primer.”
  • Must complete nine (9) additional hours of continuing education (as outlined in CRP program guidance) within one (1) calendar year of the initial request for recertification.
3. Persons Holding a Title and With Experience (these requirements would apply to those in the positions of Clerk, Health Officer, Township Manager, Purchasing Agent, Township Engineer, Recycling Coordinator, District Recycling Coordinator and related statutory positions – county, municipal or government employees only):
Those with ten (10) or more years of experience/time in the position:
  • Must complete the “Application for Certification/Recertification” form to document work experience and recycling-related activities and/or accomplishment.
  • Must complete the four (4) day alternate program and pass the associated exam.
Those with less than ten (10) or more years of experience/time in the position:
  • Must complete the full (21-day) program.
4. Certified Public Works Managers (those who have passed the CPWM exam and hold a current certification) Note: all programs will provide CPWM recertification credits:
With ten (10) or more years of experience:
  • Must complete the “Application for Certification/Recertification” form to document work experience and completion of the CPWM course, including date of initial certification and CPWM number.
  • Must complete the four (4) day alternate program and pass the associated exam.
With less than ten (10) years of experience:
  • Must complete the full (21-day) program with exemptions for overlapping CPWM courses (i.e., Management Skills, Public Policy and Communications Skills).
The determination of which training course is applicable to a given individual will be made through review of the “Application for Certification/Recertification” (see link below or call 732-932-9271) for members of the Recycling Advisory Committee, a group of professionals from the fields of recycling, solid waste and government, charged with constantly reviewing and updating the series training. A copy of this form must accompany all registration forms or be sent separately for review prior to program registration.  NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE!

Application for Certification and Recertification (Form)

2008-2010 Recycling Catalog!

Information on the Full Certification Series
Information on the Alternate Certification Series
Recertification procedure for CRP's with expired certifications

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The Full Recycling Certification Series

In order to complete the full (21-day) certification program, an individual must attend the nine (9) required courses (listed below) and successfully complete all course proficiency assignments.

• The Recycling Coordinator’s Primer (half-day program)
• New Jersey Recycling Practice and Theory (six-day program)
• Improving Your Management and Leadership Skills (two-day program)
• Recycling Non-traditional Materials (one-day program)
• Understanding Recycling Economics (four-day program)
• Enhancing Your Public Communication Skills (two-day program)
• Recycling Public Policy (one-day program)
• Recycling Collection Techniques (two-day program)
• Recycling Case Studies (two-day program)

Once certified, CRPs must complete 12 hours per year of continuing professional education/training on issues relating to solid waste and/or recycling in order to maintain their certification. Each series of classes will be offered three (3) times during the period September 2008 through June 2010; registrants are required to complete the program within a single offering. Cross-registration between series will be considered only under exceptional circumstances.

Click here for course descriptions and costs

Click here for Series 1: September 2008 - June 2009
Click here for Series 2: March 2009 - January 2010
Click here for Series 3: September 2009 - April 2010 (Dates subject to change)

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The Alternate Certification Series

This new addition is intended for municipal, county or government employees who have significant experience in the fields of recycling and/or solid waste or who have completed another professional certification program, such as those offered for health officers or public works managers.  The topics and schedule have been designed to present key information that individuals familiar with recycling and solid waste programs in New Jersey will need to know to fulfill the duties of a CRP. The agenda for the Alternate Series is as follows:

Day 1

  • (AM) The Recycling Coordinator’s Primer
  • (PM) NJDEP Regulations/Facts/Figures
Day 2
  • (AM) Effective Communication/Promotion Using Reporting Data
  • (PM) Filing/Reporting/Enforcement - Municipal and County Level
Day 3
  • (AM & PM) Recycling Economics, Markets and Marketing
Day 4
  • (AM) Collection Techniques/Contracting
  • (PM) Case Study/Wrap-up

Upon completion of the four classes (which are scheduled one day per week for four consecutive weeks) attendees who wish to complete the program and receive certification will be required to sit for and pass a written exam based on the content of the program presented.  As with the full series, registrants will be required to complete the program within a single offering.  Cross-registration between series will be considered only under exceptional circumstances. Once certified, CRPs must complete 12 hours per year of continuing professional education/training on issues relating to solid waste and/or recycling in order to maintain their certification.  These courses will be submitted for approval for Certified Public Works Manager (CPWM) continuing education credits.  Please contact Carol Broccoli at (732) 932-9271 x618 for specific credit information. Cost: $310 ($285 for multiple registrants).

Scheduled dates and locations:

Alternate Program #1  (New Brunswick - Course Code: ER0201CA09)
September 11, 18, 25 and October 2, 2008.  Exam on the evening of October 16, 2008

Alternate Program #2 (Bergen County- Course Code: ER0201CB09)
February 4, 11, 18 and 25, 2009.  Exam on the evening of March 12, 2009

Alternate Program #3 (Egg Harbor- Course Code: ER0201CC09)
May 20 & 27 and June 3 & 10.  Exam on the evening of June 24, 2009.

Alternate Program #4 (New Brunswick - Course Code: ER0201CA10)
January 27 and February 3, 10 & 17, 2010,  Exam on the evening of March 10, 2010. (Dates subject to change)

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CRP's with Expired Certifications

Once certified, CRPs are required to complete 12 hours per year (January 1 through December 31) of continuing professional education/training on issues relating to solid waste and /or recycling in order to maintain their certification.   At the conclusion of a calendar year, a “Recertification Tracking Form” must be submitted to OCPE for verification and a CRP identification card will be sent out, good for the upcoming calendar year.

If you completed the series classes and were certified, but have allowed your certification to lapse, this is your opportunity to recertify without re-taking the entire series!  If you fall into this category, please submit an “Application for Certification/Recertification” form to document your initial certification and get your recertification started.  Once your initial certification has been verified, you will be required to attend an offering of “The Recycling Coordinator’s Primer” and complete nine (9) additional hours of continuing education (as outlined in CRP program guidance, available from OCPE) within one (1) calendar year of the date of the initial request for recertification to maintain your certification.

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