“Your township environmental commission reminds you that the statewide ban on disposable bags goes into effect tomorrow on May 4, 2022.”
Get Past Plastic – Law to Reduce Single-Use Plastic Bags and Polystyrene Foam Products Takes Effect May 4, 2022
The statewide ban on disposable bags goes into effect on May 4, 2022.
In Nov. 2020, Gov. Phil Murphy and the New Jersey Legislature enacted the strongest bag ban law in the country. The law reduces litter and encourages the use of reusable bags by phasing out single-use plastic and paper bags.
- The law bans single-use plastic bags, regardless of thickness, at grocery and retail establishments, as well as paper bags at supermarkets like ShopRite and Walmart.
- It also bans polystyrene foam takeout food containers and other products such as plates, cups, food trays and utensils.
- Since last year, plastic straws are only available upon request.
For more information, including a detailed list of how the law will affect supermarkets and grocery stores, restaurants, retail stores, and food pantries and food banks, read the full press release.
Additional resources:
NJ Department of Environmental Protection’s Get Past Plastic website
NJ Clean Communities Council’s Bag Up NJ campaign
The Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions’ NJ No Plastics website
The Climate Reality Project’s reusable bag resources and plastics statistics sheet