Overview

The Authority has a vast history of discouraging the use of single-use plastic bags. Through its participation in community events such as the Eco-Fair and Enviro-Fair, and campaigns including “No Bags In Your Bin,” The Authority has always made it a priority to reduce single-use plastics and keep the sustainability of the environmental future at the forefront of its objects.

In a state-wide effort to reduce single-use products and eliminate litter, New Jersey lawmakers have passed legislation banning single-use plastics, papers, and foam products. Effective November 4, 2021 plastic straws will be available “by request only.” The law enforces that all food service businesses shall only provide a single-use plastic straw upon request by the customer. Effective May 4, 2022, the ban on single-use carryout bags and polystyrene foam food service products will be implemented. The law prohibits all stores, food service businesses, and grocery stores from selling or providing their customers with single-use plastic carryout bags and prohibits polystyrene foam food service products from being sold or provided to customers.

Bag Up NJ

There are detrimental environmental impacts from single-use plastic products. Approximately 100 billion single-use plastic bags are used every year in the United States. The average plastic bag does not decompose for up to 1,000 years, yet they are only used for approximately 12 minutes total.  Single-use plastics are another obstacle that contributes to roadside litter as they pollute the county and beyond.

It is predicted that by the year 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. An estimated 1,000,000 birds, marine mammals, and sea turtles die annually from plastic pollution, as they often mistake bags for jellyfish in search of food and ingest plastic or get entangled it.

Reusable Carryout Bags

To ensure multiple uses and a sustainable carryout bag, a reusable carryout bag is defined as a bag that is:

1. Made of polypropylene fabric, PET nonwoven fabric, nylon, cloth, hemp product, or other washable fabric; and
2. Has stitched handles; and
3. Is designed and manufactured for multiple reuses.

All carryout bags must be washable and capable of withstanding multiple washes while maintaining usefulness and integrity. A minimum of 125 uses is required. Every reusable carryout bag must have handles stitched onto the bag, not glued, to qualify as a reusable carryout bag.

Ban on Polystyrene Foam Food Service Products

Effective May 4, 2022, the ban on polystyrene foam food service products will be implemented. The ban prohibits all food service businesses and individuals from providing or offering the sale of any polystyrene foam food service products or food in a polystyrene foam food service product.

The following list of polystyrene foam food service products are exempted through May 4, 2024:

• Disposable, long-handled polystyrene soda spoons when required/used for thick drinks
• Portion cups of two ounces or less, if used for hot foods or foods requiring lids
• Meat and fish trays for raw or butchered meat, including poultry, or fish that is sold from a refrigerator or similar retail appliance
• Any food product pre-packaged by the manufacturer with a polystyrene foam food service product

Plastic Straws By Request Only

Effective November 4, 2021, the “by request only” rule will be implemented. The rule allows food service businesses to provide a single-use plastic straw to customers upon their request. Stores still may sell packages of single-use plastic straws and beverages pre-packaged by a manufacturer with a single use plastic straw such as juice boxes. All food service business must maintain an adequate supply of single-use plastic straws to provide at the request of customers.

Penalties and Enforcement

The Department of Environmental Protection, municipalities, and any entity certified by the County Environmental Health Act have the authority to enforce the single-use plastic and paper carryout bag and polystyrene foam food service product and plastic straw provisions of the law. Any person or entity that violates the law shall be subject to a warning for the first offense, may be fined up to $1,000 per day for the second offense, and up to $5,000 per day for the third and subsequent offense. Violations of a continuing nature constitute an additional, separate, and distinct offense for each day that is deemed a violation. Every store or entity in New Jersey that is subject to the state-wide law must comply with its requirements, regardless of where the store is located.

NJ Department of Environmental Protection

T: (609)984-4250

E: singleuseplastics@dep.nj.gov

Cumberland County Department of Health

Kathy Gandy, Chief Registered Environmental Health Specialist

T: 856-327-7602 x7127

E: kgandy@ccdoh.org