In an 18-month runway, the nation’s most trailblazing single use bag ban and plastic law was recently implemented in early May. The New Jersey Food Council (NJFC), the New Jersey Clean Communities Council (NJCCC), the NJ Business Action Center (NJBAC) and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) teamed up to develop a robust public campaign to educate and inform NJFC food retail members, bag suppliers, New Jersey’s business community and 9.2 million residents how best to comply with the law.
In this landmark legislation, the impact is vast to the shopping experience because it encapsulates the operations of all retailers, grocers, restaurants, schools, main street shops, meals on wheels, food trucks, senior centers, dining facilities, movie theaters, pharmacies, liquor stores, and foodbanks who have a 6-month delay.
Since the law was signed, NJFC developed a toolkit of Bag Up NJ resources for members to use from signage, in-store announcements, social media messaging, collateral materials, sponsored events and food retailers found innovative and cost-effective ways in which to spread the important message, especially to overburdened communities.
NJFC members have reached all corners of the state, handing out reusable bags and educational materials, while also answering questions and serving as a consistent, informed resource for the public.
The industry braced for May 4 – the day the law went into effect. And it came and went without any fanfare. The public was prepared, most shoppers remembered their bags or ran back out to their cars to retrieve their reusables or purchased a new bag to transport their groceries or found another means to carry their stuff.
There have been some lessons learned including the loss of hand baskets, a new look at bagging policies, evaluation of on-line shopping programs and pilot programs on bag exchange services. Nevertheless, the new law is in place, the education campaign prepared the public and NJ’s grocery shoppers have quickly made the adjustment to the new normal.
Our next messaging campaign will target bag cleaning, sanitizing and properly maintaining reusable bags as a reminder. Shoppers are quickly learning the reusable bags come in many shapes and sizes, as well as material such as woven or nonwoven polypropylene, nylon or polyester, bamboo or hemp, cotton or insulated.
While these reusable bags are a sustainable alternative to single use bags, they can generate germs and mold, and cross-contaminate food. Phase two of the public education campaign will focus on spreading the word on how best to wash and store bags safely between each use. Shoppers will be reminded to Clean, Separate and Store the bags.
For now, kudos to our New Jersey grocery and retail industries for taking on this arduous public service and moving the Garden State to a more sustainable and litter-free environment for generations to come.