A Successful Start: New Jersey’s Single-Use Bag Ban
By Melanie Willoughby, Executive Director, New Jersey Business Action Center
In May 2022, Governor Phil Murphy enacted a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags and polystyrene foam products, taking an important step to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainable alternatives. How has the legislation impacted the Garden State over one year later? Across New Jersey, we are already seeing positive outcomes from the ban, including healthier environments and revenue boosts for businesses.
The New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC), a division of the Department of State, helped businesses navigate how to prepare for and comply with the ban, educating and supporting businesses through this transition.
NJBAC provided informative webinars and educational resources in English and Spanish as well as created a registry of businesses that sell reusable bags.
NJBAC also fielded daily inquiries through its business helpline and online live chat, sharing information about policy and guidance for nurturing changing shopping habits. These efforts are ongoing.
Prior to the ban, disposable bag usage was a retail standard practice. However, single-use plastic bags are damaging to the environment, taking hundreds of years to decompose and leaving behind “microplastics” that end up negatively affecting wildlife and humans alike.
The New Jersey Food Council estimates that 5.5 billion single-use plastic bags and 110 million single-use paper bags were eliminated from entering the waste stream and environment between May and December 2022; and a more than 37% decrease in single-use plastics, including plastic bags, foam food containers and straws.
The bag ban has also presented beneficial opportunities for businesses. Many businesses have seen a reduction in bag expenses, a welcome outcome for many retailers. Also, for businesses that opted to offer reusable bags to their customers, many strengthened their own branding, placing personalized graphics on the new bags.
The businesses that took a proactive and informed approach to meeting the requirements of the ban were able to take advantage of these organic opportunities, resulting in cutting costs and implementing new marketing strategies.
NJBAC focuses on helping businesses in New Jersey succeed, including providing support and resources to navigate regulations and transitions, such as the single-use plastic bag ban. It is the goal of NJBAC to provide education, address challenges, and share helpful information with all businesses affected by the legislation to create a more sustainable future for New Jerseyans and beyond.
NJBAC offers assistance through a live chat on business.nj.gov and a toll-free helpline, 1-800-JERSEY-7, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.