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Images released by the SCI show illegally-dumped construction fill at Cliffwood Beach in Old Bridge.

(SCI)

TRENTON -- A state lawmaker wants tougher background checks for New Jersey recyclers and waste haulers after a state investigation found organized crime elements remain active in the industry.

The State Commission of Investigation, an independent state watchdog, held a hearing last week as part of its investigation into abuse among companies that recycle contaminated soils and construction debris.

SCI investigators testified at the hearing that mob-connected "dirt brokers" had exploited loopholes in state regulations and dumped contaminated material near homes and waterways.

A 2011 report from the commission also found the state's lax regulations allowed convicted felons who had been banned from waste disposal in New York had been able to operate in New Jersey undetected.

That report recommended changes to state law to rout out criminals from the solid waste and recycling industries, but none became law.

"Now's the time to push this aggressively," said Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-Union), who re-introduced a bill (S2306) on Tuesday that would implement some of the commission's recommendations.

Under regulations passed in the 1980s, certain jobs in the solid waste industry are subject to criminal background checks and a state-regulated licensing process.

The new measure would expand the background check requirement to other jobs in the solid waste industry -- including sales people, consultants and brokers -- as well as members of the recycling industry, who are exempt from such oversight under current law.

The bill would also put the state Attorney General's Office in charge of screening applicants -- a job currently split between the office and the state Department of Environmental Protection -- and require state regulators to check with neighboring states to see if operators are banned from practicing elsewhere.

A state Assembly version of the measure was introduced in January and is awaiting a hearing in the Environment and Solid Waste Committee. Lesniak said previous reforms died over concern that they created unnecessary red tape.

"I don't think you can hide under the mantle of over-regulation of business when you have both the mob interests and environmental harm being done," he said.

S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.