Isaac Avilucea reports for the Trentonian

TRENTON — The capital city joined a growing number of municipalities in New Jersey to crack down on the use of plastic shopping bags, the same day state lawmakers advanced legislation that would ban single-use plastic bags across the Garden State.

The council voted 7-0 Thursday night to approve a ban on single-use plastic bags in Trenton “for the preservation of the public health, safety and welfare” of residents and the environment.

The prohibition, spearheaded by at-large councilman Santiago Rodriguez, was initially set to take effect June 2020. But the legislative body agreed to amend the ordinance to push back the implementation date until Dec. 31, 2020 after looking to allay concerns raised by the Latino Merchant Association.

The organization was not opposed to the ban, which will impact businesses throughout the city, but asked the council to relax the date the ordinance would go into effect to give businesses more time to prepare for the change.

Under the adopted city law, first-time offenders face fines of $100, issued only after a written warning. Fines increase to $200 for second offenses and $500 for each subsequent offense. Retails must also provide customers with “compliant bags” for 10 cents apiece.

Rodriguez refused to speak to The Trentonian about one of his few victorious initiatives after Thursday night’s meeting.

“I have no comments,” he said.

At-large councilman Jerell Blakeley acknowledged the single-use plastic bag ban may become “superfluous” soon enough as state lawmakers advanced a more-stringent law that would ban not only single carryout plastic bags but also paper bags and Styrofoam containers.

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