87 Days Until Single Use Plastic Bags Are Banned In New Jersey

Effective May 4, 2022, New Jersey will have the most restrictive law in America regarding single-use plastic bags.

Plastic straws aren’t safe, either. To get one at a restaurant, you’ll have to do the asking. A restaurant will no longer be able to provide a straw to you upfront.

Packages of straws and items such as juice boxes may still be sold in stores.

While the focus is on plastic bags, the legislation also bans paper bags, too.

Reminder, the New Jersey Legislature, and Governor Phil Murphy passed this on November 4, 2020. This is a strategic tactic that certain governments use when they want to enact a controversial law. When it doesn’t take effect for years, no one cares.

But, then suddenly it’s almost here. This is the type of law that places New Jersey out of the mainstream of America.

It’s the most progressive law of its kind ever enacted. The law prohibits municipalities and counties from enacting any of their own laws on these matters.

The law takes effect in only 87 days.

It specifically reads:

The law strictly prohibits all Stores (including retail), Food Service Businesses, and Grocery Stores from selling to, or providing their customers with, single-use plastic carryout bags.

This legislation also mandates the end to polystyrene foam foodservice products that everyone uses for takeout food, etc.

I am not trying to be disrespectful to those environmentalists who are committed to removing plastics from our society.

However, it’s this kind of radical government overreach that gives New Jersey such a bad reputation.

It’s very inaccurate to call these store plastic bags single-use, as so many people reuse them for a variety of handy purposes:

• Wet bag for clothes.
• Lunch bag.
• Doggy duty.
• Food preparation.
• Marinating meats.
• Place raw chicken in the refrigerator.
• Leftover plate cover.
• Keep grill items in the cooler.
• Line kitty litter bins.
• Bathroom plunger cover.
• Hang on the lawnmower … it picks up litter and pine cones as you mow the lawn.
• Hand protector while checking oil level in the car and other dirty jobs.
• Litter bag in the car and elsewhere.
• Crafting.
• Holds clothespins on the clothesline.
• Protect plants from frost.
• Protect car windshield wipers from freezing conditions.
• Snow boot liners.
• Trash can liners.

There are many more practical uses, but, you get the idea.

Here’s a so-called single-use plastic bag being repurposed for a second life … being used to cover chicken in the freezer.

Get ready, New Jersey state government has decided for you that you shouldn’t use these kinds of products any longer.

Stock up now while you can. 87 days will be here before you know it.