One year after New Jersey implemented a law restricting single-use plastic bags and straws, and limited use of other products including paper carryout bags and polystyrene foam food containers, “the Murphy Administration is celebrating a significant decrease in the use of these products and resulting reductions in litter,” Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette announced.
Governor Murphy signed the law in 2020 and New Jersey implemented it effective May 4, 2022. The law prevents grocery stores and retail establishments from providing single-use plastic bags to customers, and further restricts grocery stores 2,500 square feet or larger from providing single-use paper bags. Similarly, polystyrene foam food takeout containers and other polystyrene food service products also may no longer be provided to customers, and single-use plastic straws may only be provided upon a customer’s request.
The impact of these restrictions is being hailed as a success just one year after the law went into effect.
“New Jersey’s initiative to step up and say no to continued plastics pollution in our communities and waterways is worthy of celebration because we have quickly seen the positive effects of this law,” Commissioner LaTourette said. “Removing single-use plastics, paper bags and foam food containers from our waste stream keeps our communities clean and protects aquatic and marine life as well as wildlife. Our next steps will be to continue educating the public about how and why these restrictions have a lasting difference on environmental protection.”
“The reduction in the use of single-use plastics puts New Jersey at the forefront of efforts to protect our environment and builds on our commitment to public health through action,” said New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. “Microplastics have the potential of causing cancer and other negative health effects on people. That’s a steep price to pay. Reducing plastics and microplastics leads to healthier New Jerseyans and a more sustainable future.”
Among key metrics measured during the past year:
The New Jersey Food Council estimates that 5.5 billion single-use plastic bags and 110 million single-use paper bags were eliminated from entering the waste stream and environment by its 2,000 grocery store members between May and December 2022;
There has been a more than 37% decrease in single-use plastics in each of three categories affected by the law, including single-use plastic bags, foam food containers and straws found as litter along the Jersey shore.
There has been a reduction in the number of plastic straws purchased by convenience stores for distribution to customers, from 17 million to 2 million per month.
The key metrics are cited in a report presented to the state Legislature by the Murphy Administration’s Plastics Advisory Council in conjunction with the first anniversary.
The Plastics Advisory Council is comprised of 16 Governor-appointed members representing the plastics and recycling industry, the academic community, environmental groups, as well as state and local government.
How are YOU adjusting to this law? Leave your feedback below.
#endtheban
I still use single-use bags. But now they’re not plastic and I pay 25 cents for each
Goose has stocked up on cases upon cases of plastic bags before this ridiculous rule went into effect thus Goose has not needed to make adjustments.
Stocked up in Goose’s crawl space is boxes & boxes as far as the eye can see of single-PLASTIC-bags.
Goose will not act a fool and carry those dopey reusable bags.
Gossage out!
you didn’t have to stock up in advance; you can still buy cases of bags. Only the stores can’t give them out.
Stupid rule just to save the face of our silly liberal rulers
No. It’s the most ridiculous “tax” they ever put forth. Either spill your groceries over the floor or pay an extra dollar per grocery store visit!
They must stop this stupidity before the whole place just gets filled with the reusable bags and the dolphins get killed a whole lot faster…
Still find it stupid and annoying.
We’re still using plastic in so much packaging & take out…
I need those bags to dispose of dirty diapers & chicken skin etc (Don’t want them smelling up my kitchen!).
Precisely.
The dumbest law ever! So inconvenient! #endtheban
It’s great to see that people adapted so easily. I never expected such high numbers in just one year.
Because you believe everything the politicians say?
Among the dumbest things ever to be banned!
Of course we adjusted. We aren’t the dumb ones.
Besides for the inconvenience, added expenses, (kitnios issues,) and all the items that end up falling and getting ruined or lost, because we didn’t buy another bag…
We now throw away hundreds of “reusable” bags. Why? Because it isn’t always practical to bring our previously purchased ones with us wherever we go, and then we end up with more than we can use.
So in the end, we waste more money and are far more inconvenienced..
We manage but still miss the good old days. We work around it by paying for fabric bags, paying for boxes (waste of cardboard, bad for environment, no?), putting more things in food storage or ziploc bags, and saying “does anyone have a shopping bag?” a lot. In the scheme of life, it’s not really a serious problem. (I still don’t have a good system for what to peel potatoes on, though.) Btw thanks Oorah for the free Fiveish bags this week! Cute publicity for their auction especially in the context of this bag ban. We’ll be using orange bags for a long time!
All that’s happening is that I grit my teeth and overpay for a bag, and then use a 0.20 bag to throw out my car or bathroom garbage- one that ostensibly could be for 125 uses!
I do often bring boxes and bags back to the grocery, but I am in the minority of shoppers- and who has room even for folded boxes in their shopping carts? For my family, I easily use 4 boxes or 10 bags!
Terrible ban
Terrible ban
No, I am very angry with this idea and it causes pain to customers just know other bags are flying around town all over NJ and it makes no difference at all. What a waste of law. Stop causing painful laws to the State of New Jersey. We want freedom. We want self-serve Gas. We need Democrats to stop with all crazy laws.
No I have not adjusted. I still hate the governor for this inconvenience.
Can someone start a petition to allow any municipality or town that wants to opt out of the ban, and put it for a referendum when voting in November?
I’m sure you just need to get x amount of signatures to force a referendum.
If it passes, it will be up to every municipality or county separately.
Thank you, Oorah, for stepping in and saving the day!
It’s a very stupid ban. What’s happening with all the reusable bags anyway? They get torn, dirty and then fill up our garbage anyway. I save all my grocery bags from the time Murphy said he’s banning them and I still have hundreds, but, I really hope they’ll end this very stupid and inconvenient ban. It does nothing for the environment.
What a bunch of whiners. I’ve had reusable bags for years, even still have some that are 7-8 years old. Haven’t once had one tear or blow out leaving my groceries all over the ground like was common with plastic bags. Plus I can fit 2x as much in each bag. You say it’s hard to remember them when you go shopping. Is it hard to remember your car keys or wallet when you leave the house? How did you even exist before plastic bags? I live along a major highway and can say that it’s been a pleasure not to have to pick up any of the plastic bags from my yard recently. Now if they would only ban single use plastic cups and styrofoam and paper plates/bowls it would be like old Lakewood again where I wouldn’t have to clean piles of trash from my yard everyday.
I don’t know why every store doesnt have a sign saying “Due to the fascistic law passed by the democrats in Trenton and signed by Murphy, we now charge $.20 a bag” attack the law and let everyone know it is the Democrats who did it, so we can vote them out next election.
I’m still mad
And have anger anytime I see some old lady having to carry her goods with no bag
very difficult to work around…remember this on election day
#endtheplasticban
This was very bad from the get go. The law earmarked a huge amount of money to be given to some organization to give out free bags and educate the consumers. Apparently this never happened but I’m willing to bet they still got the money. Someone should be investigating this.
The reusable bags take up much more room in the landfills and garbage trucks and garbage bags and shipping, so what Did they gain? Just typical democrats making life inconvenient for the people.
I went to a store and brought reusable bags that I previously bought at a different store once. The bagger at the register did not look too pleased and made a face. Not comfortable. However, I can’t afford to keep buying bags. They should be grateful that I purchased groceries in their store and not make faces if I come in with another stores bags.
No. It’s terrible!