Plastic and paper bag ban passed by NJ lawmakers, heads to governor [View all]

[left-of-center2012]

New Jersey lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill that would limit the use of single-use plastic bags, paper bags, plastic straws and polystyrene food containers in the state. The measure is an attempt to reduce the amount of waste generated in the state.

The Democrat-sponsored bill (S864/A1978) prohibits food service businesses from giving customers single-use plastic bags and polystyrene food containers. The bans apply to a variety of businesses, including restaurants, convenience stores, food trucks, movie theaters and grocery stores that are 2,500 square feet or larger.

The rules give exemptions for some disposable items, including:

Bags wrapping raw meat
Polystyrene butcher trays
Bags used for loose items like produce
Bags that hold fish and insects from pet stores
Dry cleaning bags
Newspaper bags
Bags carrying prescription drugs

Food service businesses, under the bill, would be allowed to hand-out plastic straws only upon a customer’s request.

If a business were to break these rules, the bill allows for a warning for the first violation, a $1,000 fine for the second violation and $5,000 fines for the third violation and every violation after that. All fines collected would go to Clean Communities Program Fund, which pays for litter clean-up grants across New Jersey. The restrictions would become effective after an 18-month grace period, except for the straw ban which has a year-long grace period.

https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2020/09/plastic-and-paper-bag-ban-passed-by-nj-lawmakers-heads-to-governor.html