By: CDRW’s New Jersey State Lead, Rebecca Hilbert (NJLCV) and ANJEC’s Nandini Checko
On May 4, 2022, NJ implemented the strongest law in the country to help reduce plastic pollution. Through our Plastics Free July Survey, NJLCV, CDRW, and ANJEC teamed up to better understand how the law is working for NJ residents and what we can do to make the transition easier. Thank you to all those that took the survey!
key takeaways from over 500 survey respondents
It is looking pretty positive! The majority of people support the Plastic Pollution Reduction Law. In addition, most people seem to be finding the shift to reusable grocery bags fairly easy. In fact, more than a third of respondents were already using reusable bags before the law went into effect!
Tips & Tricks Shared for Remembering to Bring Your Reusables:
Unload groceries and immediately put bags back into car, keep spares in the trunk!
Hang bags onto the doorknob such as front door or garage door
Write “Bring Bags” on shopping list
Use a cling sticker on the car window that says “Got Bags?”
Keep a foldable, compact bag in pocketbook/backpack/pocket
If you forget to bring your bags to the store, place items directly into your car and then transfer into bags at home or use a laundry basket or cardboard box to bring them instead
What are people doing with excess reusable bags?
Keeping them
Giving them away to friends/family or donating them to local food pantry
Storing items around the house
Using them as beach bags
Recycling/Giving back to the stores
Frequently asked questions
What can we do to address the issue of Styrofoam packing peanuts?
Good news! This problem was recently addressed by The Recycled Content Bill (S2515) that was signed into law in January 2022. This law prohibits the sale of polystyrene (Styrofoam) packing peanuts in the Garden State within two years. The law also requires more recycled paper, plastic, and glass to be used in various products in the state such as plastic and glass containers, plastic and paper carryout bags, and plastic trash bags after two years.
Why ban paper bags at the grocery store?
Single-use paper bags also have a negative environmental footprint. The manufacturing, disposal and recycling of paper requires a substantial amount of wood, water, energy and chemicals which also creates waste and emissions that must be controlled and treated.
Paper bags take three times as much energy and four times as much water to manufacture than plastic bags. Paper bags are not durable, being more likely to split or tear, especially if they get wet. In a landfill, paper bags often do not biodegrade for decades due to lack of oxygen. Bag for bag, they cost more to landfill than plastic bags because they take up much more space by weight and volume. In addition the state used about 1,300 football fields of trees worth of paper bags every year!
Recommendations of Actions NJ can do to reduce plastic pollution
Figure out a way to address the issue of grocery deliveries and the buildup of excess reusable bags
Focus on enforcement!
Ban single use plastic water bottles and create a bottle deposit program
Enact extended producer responsibility and hold manufacturers responsible and accountable for packaging waste
Improve municipal recycling programs
Develop a market for reuse & refill
Encourage robust waste management curriculum in schools
Thank you for participating! We are committed to supporting continued education and advocating strong policies to reduce plastic pollution. Please visit NJNoPlastics.org for resources such as an English/Spanish leave behind Tent Card at restaurants/stores explaining the new law.