While May the 4 is a notorious reference to a Star Wars movie tagline, in New Jersey that date signifies the ban of single use plastic and paper bags offered to shoppers by food retailers and polystyrene foam food service products provided by restaurants and food service providers. Plastic straws are now available only on request. Various components of the law impact a variety of businesses and other operations including all retailers, grocers, restaurants, schools, main street shops, meals on wheels, foodbanks, food trucks, senior centers, dining facilities, movie theaters, pharmacies, and liquor stores.
This journey began in late 2020 when Governor Murphy signed a uniform statewide plastic policy standard into law. With an initial 18-month runway, now New Jersey is only weeks away from implementation of this plastic ban law, the most stringent in the country. However, there are various exemptions for types of plastic bags and polystyrene packaging along with other implementation extensions. Also, NJFC was successful in securing flexibility within the definition of a reusable bag, so that more affordable options are available such as bags with ultrasonic stitched handles. We continue to advocate that plant-based bags should be exempt if they do not have a plastic component.
Over the past 18 months, NJFC has been working closely with partners from the New Jersey Clean Communities Council, the State Department of Environmental Protection and the NJ Business Action Center, which launched a statewide “Bag Up NJ” education campaign geared toward the business community and educating shoppers about the new law encouraging shoppers to bring their own reusable bags or another means to carry out groceries.
This effort features a multitude of messaging features including the launch of a website with a toolkit of resources that explains the law and how it affects New Jersey, a vendor clearinghouse for suppliers, an NJFC member podcast on compliance, presentations before the NJ League of Municipalities, five NJFC member working groups, a video with the NJ DEP Commissioner and a public service announcement for radio and in-store broadcast systems.
We recommend using these websites to check how the law impacts a certain business or operation at NJDEP Plastics Law FAQs or NJBAC Resources or BagUpNJ.com.
In the meantime, New Jersey grocers are ready for implementation, and this move towards a more sustainable environment. May the Fourth be with you and beyond.