For many years, the New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) tackled plastic bag issues at the state house. As more reusable options came to market and towns were passing varying local bag bans or fee ordinances, NJFC started to study the issue closer and review what the best public policy would be for New Jersey consumers, retailers and the environment. Since our members would be complying with the provisions of this bill, we grew to understand the best position would be to strongly support a uniform statewide standard which phases out both single use plastic and paper bags, and encourages the use of reusable bags in New Jersey. This final decision represents years of work and deliberation.
When Governor Phil Murphy signed the proposal into law in early November, we applauded his action in what becomes the most prolific single use disposal bag ban law in the nation. The new law is far from perfect but it puts an end to the municipal madness because it preempts all local ordinances and addresses the underlying goal of reducing our reliance on single-use products.
We believe the ban on paper bags is critically important to the success of this new public policy. Lifecycle analyses from around the globe, including those conducted by Clemson University, California State University’s Institute for Sustainable Development, and the governments of the United Kingdom and Denmark, all show that paper bags have just as significant of an environmental impact as plastic bags. Without a ban, consumers will simply move to paper single-use bags and we will not address the underlying goal of reducing our reliance on single-use products.
This occurred in New York State, which banned plastic bags and did not address paper bags. There has been a significant shortage of paper bags because consumers simply switched from plastic to paper single-use bags. The shortage caused by New York State’s policy continues to cause significant supply chain problems regionally, increases the cost of paper bags, and does nothing to improve our environment.
While we remain concerned about some of the bill provisions, such as those pertaining to polystyrene, we are encouraged by the extended phaseout for certain products and support the waiver process outlined in the new law. We recognize the packaging provisions are a compromise and we will have the opportunity to re-visit some of these issues in the future.
The bag ban takes effect in 18 months and NJFC will work in partnership with the NJ Clean Communities Council and the state Department of Environmental Protection to roll-out the Food Council’s Choose to Reuse public education campaign. It was created in anticipation of passage and we are well positioned to phase out single use disposal bags and move to a reusable bag program with NJ customers over this period of time.