The New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) has continually advocated for a uniform statewide standard, phasing out single use plastic and paper bags and encouraging the use of reusable bags in New Jersey. We are thankful to state lawmakers in both Houses of the Legislature for today’s bill passage, following years of work and deliberation.
This law will put an end to the proliferation of varying local ordinances. The current unworkable patchwork underscores the importance of having this smart, uniform statewide law that preempts all local ordinances.
The ban on paper bags is critically important; they have just as significant of an environmental impact as plastic bags. Without this ban, consumers would have simply moved to paper single-use bags, failing to address the underlying goal of reducing our reliance on single-use products.
The New Jersey Food Council extends its appreciation to the state Legislature for creating this uniform standard for the entire state. We ask Governor Phil Murphy to sign this legislation when it is received on his desk.