Gov. Phil Murphy Signed NJ Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban Into Law
According to Senate Bill 864, the state will ban all of the above products starting in May 2022.
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Governor Phil Murphy has signed into law, New Jersey’s comprehensive ban on single-use plastic and paper bags and disposable food containers and cups. The ban will be applicable to all stores and food service establishments across the state. This is considered as the nation’s most stringent ban on single use plastic and paper bags. According to Senate Bill 864, the state will ban all of the above products starting in May 2022.
However, some products are exempt from the ban for a period of two years from the date of implementation of the ban. These include disposable, long-handled PS soda spoons for thick drinks, portion cups of 2 ounces or less used for hot foods requiring lids, meat and fish trays for raw or butchered meat, any food product prepackaged by the manufacturer with a PS foodservice product or any other PS foam foodservice product determined necessary by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
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Effective November 2021, foodservice businesses will be allowed to provide single-use plastic straws to customers only upon request.
While DEP applauded the Governor for signing the bill, some trade associations such as the Washington-based American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) has opposed the move.