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A new plastic grocery bag ban advances in NJ but how far will it go with paper bags attached?

By Frank Brill, EnviroPolitics editor

At the end of three hours of public testimony today in the Senate Environment and Energy Committee, with organizations both supporting and opposing New Jersey’s newest attempt to ban various forms of plastics and paper, it boiled down to this. No one objected to not getting a plastic straw with their drink unless asking for it.

That was the extent of agreement. Everything else was up for debate. Whether the definition of what constitutes a plastic bag used in other state’s bans was superior or inferior to what New Jersey lawmakers propose in S864; whether foam cups, trays, and clamshell containers are poisoning our streams, or whether paper shopping bags should be in the legislation at all (New Jersey would be the only state to ban them).

Let’s review them, one by one

Wave goodbye to single-use plastic bags. They were a goner from the day the first picture of a dead, plastic-filled whale washed up onto our news feeds. The public wants them banned and the legislature will deliver.

Foam container lobbyists could win a full pardon as the bill advances to the Senate floor and then moves on for committee and floor votes in the Assembly. Or a stay of execution in the form of a multi-year period in which to demonstrate that their products can be effectively recycled. Or they might fail in both escape attempts and be forced to make their case to the governor if the bill ever reaches him. This one (like this weekend’s Superbowl) is too close to call.

Paper bags? Quick, name the last whale beached by an A&P shopping bag. No, this add-on has nothing to do with ocean life. It’s an attempt by well-meaning environmentalists to move New Jersey closer to a zero-waste state. But it’s classic over-reaching and surely will doom the bill if it isn’t excised.

The committee released the bill after changing its effective date from 24 months to 18 months after enactment. The two Republicans on the five-member committee abstained.

Twitter users: See our coverage of today’s hearing at:
@enviropolitics and @frankbrill.

Editor’s note: Tomorrow’s edition of our daily newsletter, EnviroPolitics, will contain all the stories by conventional media on the bag ban legislation. Not yet a subscriber? Sign up for tomorrow’s issue–and a full month’s more–by clicking here. No charge, no commitment. Just tons of valuable information, including weekly reports on energy and environment legislation in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

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NJ lawmakers are taking a new shot at a statewide ban on plastic grocery bags

By Frank Brill, EnviroPolitics editor

The New Jersey Senate’s Environment and Energy Committee is meeting this morning to consider only one bill – a stubbornly controversial ban on single-use plastic and paper bags, S864.

Main provisions of the bill had changed a number of times before time ran out on it in the lame-duck session that ended earlier this month. Now, the legislature is back in action for a new, two-year session.

Today, we’ll get our first look at who’s for and who’s against the latest version.

We’ll be back later with an update. In the meanwhile, check out our live meeting coverage on Twitter. @enviropolitics @frankbrill

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Bill to ban plastic grocery bags, paper bags, and foam containers is moving ahead in New Jersey

By Frank Brill, EnviroPolitics Editor

S2776, a bill that would prohibit New Jersey grocery stores from using single-use plastic bags and, eventually, paper bags and styrofoam containers as well, was released Thursday by the state senate budget committee in Trenton.  A floor vote is expected on December 12.

An Assembly version of the legislation, A4330, will be heard in the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste committee on Monday.

Under the proposed bill, single-use, plastic carryout bags would be prohibited within one year. Paper bags and polystyrene foam cups and containers would also be banned in two years.

The bill was amended prior to release. Unlike previous versions, it no longer bans plastic straws, which would still be available upon requests at restaurants, a point that advocates for people with disabilities have pushed.

Eight states have banned plastic bags, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Maine and Maryland have also passed bills banning Styrofoam. Hawaii has a de facto ban on paper bags with less than 40% recycled material, according to the conference.

Opponents included plastics manufacturers, business and industry groups as well as some supermarkets.

Dennis Hart, the executive director of the Chemistry Council of New Jersey, which represents plastics manufacturers, said doing away with Styrofoam would cost millions of dollars for school districts. He criticized the bill for leaving wax-coated paper cups with plastic lids common at cafes untouched, while prohibiting polystyrene — commonly known as Styrofoam.

“It’s just substituting one piece of litter for another,” he said.

Last year, Gov. Phil Murphy vetoed a bill that imposed a fee on single-use plastics, agreeing with environmentalists who argued that such an approach would be inadequate in fighting the proliferation of plastics.

We have reports from CBS 17 above and NJTV News below

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On the first day of Jersey City’s ban on plastic grocery bags, here’s how it went

Editor’s Note: Let’s face it, no one likes change. But ShopRite
in Jersey City did an exemplary job preparing its customers to meet the city’s new ban on the use of single-use plastic bags. They had advance signs posted for weeks throughout the store and a large countdown sign warning of yesterday’s effective day. Their employees even wore special tee shirts. A very small customer price for sturdy reusable bags also helped with the transition. Still, not all were pleased on Day 1. Our prediction: Six months from now, the hubbub will give way to ho-hum as new habits are formed. Congratulations, Jersey City and all city grocers! — FB

By Falyn Stempler | The Jersey Journal

JERSEY CITY — If city residents still haven’t weaned themselves off single-use plastic bags, too bad.

A plastic bag ban unanimously passed by the City Council a year ago went into full effect Friday and city officials marked the historic day with a kickoff event at ShopRite at 400 Marin Blvd.

The ban prohibits commercial retailers from giving customers merchandise in plastic bags as part of an effort to decrease litter and reduce environmental impact. Plastic is not biodegradable and often ends up in landfills and pollutes oceans, streets, parks and more.

NJTV News

“We invested dollars in it to do our part to make sure the planet is a better place than the way we found it,” said Mayor Steve Fulop, who attended the event with members of his staff. “Hopefully this paves the way for the entire state of New Jersey.”

All retailers must provide reusable and durable bags with handles and can choose to charge a nominal fee. ShopRite is charging customers 10 cents for each bag. Additionally, ShopRite has larger non-plastic bags that customers can purchase on a buy-one-get-one-free basis. Violating this municipal code could result in a minimum fine of $100.

PIX 11 News

City resident Jeff Fung said he thinks it is worth spending a few extra cents to help the environment.

“I think it’s worth it,” he said. “For the environmental protection, it’s worth it. … I don’t mind 10 cents, not too bad.”

Fulop was joined by the owners, managers, and workers of ShopRite on Friday handing out free reusable bags to some customers as part of the first-day promotion. Katherine Lawrence, director of the city Office of Sustainability, said the government hopes this ban will make residents change their behavior and bring their own bags.

Read the full story

Has your town implemented a plastic bag ban? Is there one in the works? Do you support or oppose the change? Let us know why–or any other thoughts you have on plastic bags–in the comment box below

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With more NJ towns banning plastic grocery bags, will state lawmakers join the parade?

With many New Jersey municipalities already having passed ordinances to reduce the use of plastic bags, straws, and Styrofoam containers, move is on for a statewide policy

Plastic bag resized

Tom Johnson reports for NJ Spotlight

New Jersey is inching toward another run at banning single-use plastic bags, and paper bags may get caught up in the prohibition this time around.

The ban is attracting increasing support among residents, businesses and even municipal governments since Gov. Phil Murphy last summer vetoed a bill banning plastic bags while imposing a nickel fee on paper bags. (The governor vetoed it because he said he wanted a stronger version.)

Since then, more than 50 New Jersey municipalities have passed ordinances toreduce the use of plastic bags, straws, balloons, and Styrofoam containers. Other states have followed suit. Maine banned polystyrene containers. New York prohibited single-use plastic bags in March.

Advocates are hoping the spread of locally-adopted bans will pressure New Jersey lawmakers to move forward with legislation (S-2776) that is bogged down in a Senate committee. With a patchwork of different, local bans, even those who oppose such ordinances would rather embrace a uniform statewide policy as the bill does.

Sen. Bob Smith, the chairman of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee and sponsor of the statewide ban, welcomed the action by local governments. “The towns have been the leaders on this,’’ he said. “Their effort has put us in a better position to pass this.’’

Read the full story

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Will NJ ban grocery plastic bags, tax them, or do nothing?


One piece of legislation would phase out plastic bags entirely, while another would charge consumers a nickel — with the money going toward lead abatement

plastic bags

Tom Johnson reports for
NJ Spotlight:
California did it four years ago. Hawaii has a de facto ban. And last month, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called for a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags by next year.
Will New Jersey follow suit? At least one legislator thinks it should. Assemblyman John McKeon, an environmental advocate from Essex County, introduced a bill (A-4040) last week proposing a ban to phase out noncombustible plastic carry-out bags three years after enactment.
It is no small problem. Each year, Americans use 380 billion plastic bags, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Last year, in a beach cleanup by Clean Ocean Action, more than 80 percent of the haul was some kind of plastic. Some towns along the Jersey Shore are already banning plastic bags or imposing fees on their use.
“The ecological damage being done by the bags that we all use just bares the irresponsibility of all of us,’’ McKeon said of the source of litter that fills landfills, despoils waterways, and threatens marine life.
The idea of a ban is backed by many environmentalists, but so far only two states have prohibited the use of plastic bags — although several major cities have adopted bans, including San Francisco, Seattle, and Boston. McKeon’s latest bill is an updated version of a measure that has been kicking around the Legislature for years.
In New Jersey, the debate over an outright ban on plastic bags may come down to whether a better approach might be to impose a 5-cent fee on single-use carry out bags as proposed by a bill (A-3267) sponsored by Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle (D-Bergen).
That bill is backed by the New Jersey Food Council, which views it as a sound approach to dealing with the issue, according to Linda Doherty, its president.


Read the full story


Related news story: 
Plastic pollution killed sperm whale found dead on Spanish beach

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California becomes first state to ban plastic grocery bags

California supermarkets and other outlets will be banned from using single-use plastic bags starting in July 2015.

A national coalition of plastic bag manufacturers immediately said it would seek a voter referendum to repeal the law, which is scheduled to take effect in July 2015.

Click here for video

Under SB270, plastic bags will be phased out of checkout counters at large grocery stores and supermarkets such as Wal-Mart and Target starting next summer, and convenience stores and pharmacies in 2016. The law does not apply to bags used for fruits, vegetables or meats, or to shopping bags used at other retailers. It allows grocers to charge a fee of at least 10 cents for using paper bags.


State Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Los Angeles, credits the momentum for statewide legislation to the more than 100 cities and counties, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, that already have such bans.
 
 

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Union County, NJ has a plan for your reusable grocery bags

Union County, NJ has announced the expansion of its reusable bag recycling program, aimed at addressing the surplus of reusable bags.

With the implementation of New Jersey’s Get Past Plastic law, which prohibits businesses from providing single-use plastic bags, many individuals have transitioned to using reusable bags. However, some people occasionally forget to bring their reusable bags to stores, resulting in the purchase of additional bags. Over time, this has led to an accumulation of excess reusable bags in households. Furthermore, grocery delivery services often provide customers with reusable bags, contributing to the surplus, a county news release notes.

“With Union County residents at the heart of this initiative, we are transforming excess into opportunity, creating a sustainable cycle that benefits both our environment and our community,” said Commissioner Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Molded. “This program not only tackles waste but also represents unity and responsibility, showcasing the power of collective action for a greener, brighter future. Thank you to all of those who are involved in making this initiative possible.”

Residents from any municipality in Union County can bring their gently-used reusable bags to any of the participating locations. GOATote, Inc. will collect the bags, thoroughly clean and sanitize them, and deliver them to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey in Hillside. From there, the bags will be distributed to local Food Pantries in need.

Click for participating locations

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Philly’s long-delayed plastic bag ban to start


By Katie Meyer, WHYY News

Philly’s long-delayed ban on single-use plastic bags will begin to take effect at the start of July.

City Council first passed the ban in late 2019, requiring nearly all businesses — including grocery and convenience stores, gas stations, department and clothing stores, restaurants, food trucks, and farmers’ markets — to stop using plastic bags and any paper bags that don’t use at least 40% recycled material.

In a statement, Mayor Jim Kenney noted that the coronavirus pandemic delayed implementation of the ban, but said the city is now turning its attention more fully to its environmental goals.

“While the ban on single-use plastic bags will go into effect later than we originally anticipated, we believe this timeline will help increase compliance,” he said. “By building out an extended education and warning period, the City will be better able to ensure widespread awareness of the law to our diverse business owners and to residents and consumers.”

Click for full story

If you liked this post you’ll love our daily newsletter, EnviroPolitics. It’s packed with the latest news, commentary, and legislative updates from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware…and beyond. Don’t take our word for it, try it free for an entire month. No obligation.

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[Update] Murphy signs ban on plastic bags in NJ

By Tom Johnson, NJ Spotlight

Gov. Phil Murphy today signed a bill that many call the nation’s toughest ban on single-use plastic and paper bags, a step advocates call the most important way to end plastic pollution in the environment.

The Legislature approved the bill (S-864) after a long battle, including a veto of a previous measure two years ago by the governor who considered it too weak. It had been a top priority of environmental groups for the past few years.

The legislation had faced opposition from various business groups, but the move by more than 50 local communities to enact their own plastic bag bans, often differing in scope and intent, led some organizations to back a single, statewide standard instead. Eight other states have enacted statewide bans on single-use plastic bags, but none have included single-use paper bag prohibitions.

Polystyrene-foam products also banned

Beyond the bans on single-use bags, which are largely confined to larger grocery stores, the law also prohibits polystyrene foam food-service products, typically used for carry-out food items, as well as limits on single-use plastic straws.

The bill includes many exemptions, among them for uncooked meat, poultry and fish wrapped in bags, prescription drugs from pharmacies and dry-cleaner plastic bags.

It establishes various times for the legislation to take effect, but generally the ban will not be effective for at least 18 months. The bill also allows for certain polystyrene manufacturers to obtain a waiver under certain conditions.

Plastic pollution

Plastic bags emerged as one of the leading causes of pollution in the ocean and other environments in recent years, according to numerous global studies, as well as a local one addressing the Raritan River. The bags break down and cause harm to wildlife and marine fisheries

Read the full story

If you liked this post you’ll love our daily newsletter, EnviroPolitics. It’s packed with the latest news, commentary and legislative updates from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware…and beyond. Don’t take our word for it, try it free for an entire month. No obligation.

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