As Trenton considers proposals to modify the state’s ban on disposable bags at grocery stores, a new poll finds that residents are deeply divided, with 40% saying that the ban should be kept as is, and smaller numbers calling for it to be modified, or overturned entirely.
According to the latest results from a Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll, partisanship
dominates how people feel about the issue, with Democrats wanting to keep the ban as is, and most Republicans wanting to see it overturned.
“When the ban passed last year, it was contentious, but politicians figured that people would get used to it,” Dan Cassino, a professor of Government and Politics at FDU, and the director of the poll. said.
“Nine months later, people are still arguing about it,” he added.
The ban on large grocery stores dispensing single-use shopping bags went into effect last May and is considered one of the strictest rules of its type in the country.
Supporters point to millions of single-use plastic bags that have not been distributed by stores in the months since the ban was passed.
Opponents argue that revisions to the law are needed to allow for paper bags, which can be recycled, or to do something about the reusable bags piling up in the houses of residents who get groceries delivered.
A bill to modify the law was introduced late last year, but was pulled in order to give more
time to see if the issues would sort themselves out.
Overall, 40 percent of residents support keeping the ban as is, while 33 percent support overturning the law completely.
A quarter of respondents (26 percent) say that they support modifying the ban.
Democrats are the most likely to support keeping the law as is: 50 percent prefer that option, with 29 percent supporting modifying the law, and 20 percent saying it should be overturned.
Conversely, a majority of Republicans (55 percent) in the state say that the bag ban should be overturned, with smaller numbers saying it should be kept as is or modified.
These splits are about the same among all age groups, and between men and women.
“This is almost a perfect symbolic issue for partisans in New Jersey,” said Cassino.
“Democrats can feel like they’re doing something for the environment; Republicans can feel like they’re suffering under governmental over-reach. Whether they like the ban or not, everyone is getting something they want out of it.”
we have always used the bags again for keeping household garbage, food scraps, and of course – covering our hats when it’s raining.
here’s a fun hack – go to Costco and get a case of single use bags, and collect 5 cents every time you bring in your own bag for your groceries.
become ungovernable.
NONE of us voted for this silliness.
Time to get rid of it!! Or make it up to the county or municipal! All republicans can enjoy the bags and all the democrats can suffer alone with their problems 😆
One of the most ridiculous things ever passed. With everything going on, THIS is what our elected people in Trenton were able to pass???
Sure, taxes are from the highest in the nation, there are regulations on practically everything, prices on all goods are through the roof, but at least you can’t put your groceries in a plastic bag!
End the Ban!!!!
As a busy mother, this ban has been extremely difficult for me. I don’t remember to carry my reusables when I go to the store and I get charged for every bag now. I also have more usage for plastic bags that I reuse many times than the new reusable bags which take up space and are annoying. And when I shop at pharmacies and the like and don’t have a bag with me…. my stuff is falling all over the place.
Here is a hack that I use. Keep a bunch of bags in the trunk of your car, so you don’t forget to take them each time you go shopping. Do not buy any bags at the grocery. Push your loaded cart to your car, open your trunk, and put the groceries directly into the bags in your trunk. Works for me all the time!
even when it’s pouring and your kids are tagging along…
It’s not doing anything for the environment. The reusable bags also end up in the garbage. Maybe the stores should give out reusable bags for free just like the plastic ones. After all they can’t be much more expensive than the throwaway ones.
Bring back the plastic bagss!!!!
I’m done carrying all my items in my hand cuz I forgot my bags in the car or paying extra for a tiny bag that hardly fits anything in it! I’d rather just make it illegal to throw bags on the floor and call it a day!
As long as people in NJ vote for a gov’t of control freaks this nonsense will continue. Murphy is currently issuing executive orders to phase out affordable natural gas heating and to ban internal combustion cars.
This virtue-signaling fool is like his role model, Calif. pretty boy Gavin Newsom- both care more about being loved by their media sycophants than improving the lives of their long-suffering constituents.
There’s a reason people are fleeing Democrat states including NY, NJ, Illinois and California, and going to Republican states like Florida and California.
Yet they will keep voting for the democrats who passed this fascistic law.
I throw out my reusable bags. What else should I line my bathroom garbage cans with?!? Bags from a box? Doesn’t this defeat the purpose of the ban? I always reused my grocery bags for lunch, for diaper duty, for car garbage…
I have a plastic bag in my garbage can and one in the bathroom this governor is to controlling he needs to go