New Jersey Clean Communities Council to Distribute Reusable Bags in Asbury Park
New Jersey to Ban Plastic Bags in All Stores Beginning Next May
ASBURY PARK – August 2, 2021 – As the state prepares for a statewide ban on plastic and paper bags, the New Jersey Clean Communities Council (NJCCC) is launching a statewide education campaign to remind shoppers to bring their own reusable bags.
As part of this comprehensive outreach campaign, the NJCCC has scheduled a reusable carryout bag giveaway on Thursday, August 12, between 10 a.m. and noon, on the Asbury Park Boardwalk at Ocean and Fifth Avenues (rain date August 13th).
On hand will be NJCCC Executive Director JoAnn Gemenden and Asbury Park Clean Communities Coordinator Yvonne Adams, who will be educating residents, summer tourists and business owners about the new state law, which goes into effect on May 4, 2022.
The effort is part of “Bag Up NJ,” a component of the state law that requires the NJCCC to develop and coordinate a three-year education campaign. The Asbury Park event is the first bag giveaway event part of a statewide roll-out designed to engage with shoppers in a meaningful way.
“Through Bag Up NJ, we have a very simple, important message: Start bringing your own reusable bags to the store,” Gemenden said. “Even though the law does not go into effect until next year, we want residents to begin changing habits now by bringing their own bags regardless of where they shop. Plastic bags add to New Jersey’s litter problem. The earlier we change behaviors, the better.”
Asbury Park Mayor John Moor said the city strongly supports sustainable initiatives including the use of reusable bags that will keep Asbury Park and its natural resources protected.
“We thank the New Jersey Clean Communities Council and the City’s Recycling Coordinator for advancing our goals in accordance with the City’s Green Team and our local plastic bag ban,” he said.
The campaign website, BagUpNJ.com, provides the latest news on single use plastics as well as free downloads of graphics and marketing materials.
For more information on the NJ Bag Ban Law, please visit: https://www.nj.gov/dep/plastic-ban-law/. For information on Business Compliance please contact the New Jersey Business Action Center https://business.nj.gov/recent/disposable-bag-ban.