Come May, you’ll have to make sure you have a reusable bag when you check out at any food or retail stores in New Jersey. A statewide ban is going into effect May 4 on single-use plastic bags, as well as polystyrene foam takeout food containers and other polystyrene products like plates, cups, food trays and utensils. Kari Martin, advocacy campaign manager for Clean Ocean Action, says it’s all in an effort to protect our environment from the harm of plastics pollution.
The law allows for some exceptions, Martin points out. “For the largest stores, you won’t be getting the plastic carryout bags for goods that you’re purchasing, but there are some bags that will be in circulation as exceptions to the rule. That is … any bags that are used to contain meat and fish or to pack loose items such as bulk foods, bags that contain live animals, dry clean bags, laundry bags, garment bags, will also be available…”
Some towns have already banned single-use plastic bags.
