Retail stores, grocery stores and food service businesses may not provide or sell single-use plastic carryout bags and polystyrene foam food service products. Single-use paper carryout bags are allowed to be provided or sold, except by grocery stores equal to or larger than 2,500 square feet, which may only provide or sell reusable carryout bags. (P.L. 2020, c.117)
Information for consumers:
Learn more: Get Past Plastic
Watch a Library webinar: Getting Past Plastics One Bottle at a Time
Information for businesses:
Carryout bags must be:
- Made of polypropylene fabric, PET non-woven fabric, nylon, cloth, hemp product, or other washable fabric, and
- Have stitched handles (either thread or ultrasonic, T-Shirt bags are permitted), and
- Designed and manufactured for at least 125 reuses.
Find out if you are impacted by this ban
In recognition of the hardships the pandemic has placed on many people, food pantries and food banks will have until Nov. 4 to comply with the plastic bag provisions of the law under legislation signed recently by Governor Murphy. The Clean Communities Council will provide them with 500,000 reusable bags for distribution. They may also provide paper bags. Petty's
Find Vendors and Alternatives to Banned Single Use Products
As a courtesy, the State has compiled a list of vendors who provide environmentally sound alternatives to single-use plastic carryout bags, single-use paper carryout bags, polystyrene foam food service products, and single-use plastic straws.
Wholesale Manufacturer and Distributor Sign-up
If you are a business that manufactures or distributes sustainable products that meet the NJ State standards, sign up to have your company added to the list wholesale vendors.
View and download a business resource guide
Click here to attend a webinar: Countdown to 2022 Plastic Carryout Bag and Polystyrene Foam Ban Roundtable Webinar presented by the New Jersey Business Action Center