Compliance Assistance Program for Small Businesses, Municipalities, and Schools

Q: What is GreenStart?
A: GreenStart is a compliance assistance program to help small businesses, schools, and municipalities understand their environmental obligations.

Q: My company is small and I don't have the staff or expertise to know if I am in compliance with environmental regulations. How can I find out?
A: GreenStart is designed to assist small businesses like yours, with limited staff, expertise, and resources with understanding your compliance obligations.

Q: How do I apply?
A: Just click on "Application" on the toolbar at the top of this page and print the application. Mail, Fax, or Email the application to:

NJDEP GreenStart
401 E. State Street, PO Box 422
Trenton, NJ 08625
Email: GreenStart@dep.state.nj.us
Fax: 609-292- 984-9658

Q: How do I qualify for a free GreenStart consultation?
A: Although the GreenStart program was designed to cater to businesses with less than 100 employees exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis. As long as your facility does not have any ongoing enforcement action with the DEP and does not have a history of serious environmental violations, your application should be accepted. Call 609-292-1305 and the GreenStart coordinator can more fully explain the procedures for completed the user-friendly application.

Q: What happens if I'm accepted?
A:A GreenStart inspector will contact your facility to schedule a free-on-site consultation to determine what your permit needs might be and whether you are in compliance with regulations pertaining to air, water, solid waste, and hazardous waste programs. The inspector will compile his findings in a report, which will be submitted to you with pollution prevention suggestions and a recommended action plan to achieve compliance. You may use the inspector as a point of contact should additional questions arise in the future.

Q: What happens if a violation is found?
A: The GreenStart program was designed to eliminate penalties and grant grace periods of up to 90 days to achieve compliance. However, egregious violations can not be considered for a grace period.