Maya Ellison
In 2020, New Jersey passed a law banning single-use plastic and paper bags in all stores and food service businesses, which came into effect in May 2022. However, recent studies have shown that the ban has led to a spike in plastic consumption and an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Assemblyman John Azzariti Jr. has introduced legislation to reverse the ban, stating that the unintended consequences of the law are starting to negate any environmental benefits. With the proposal of this new bill, plastic bags may be making a comeback in New Jersey soon.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ban on plastic bags in New Jersey | In effect since May 2022 |
| Ban on polystyrene foam food service products | In effect since May 2022 |
| Single-use plastic carryout bags ban | Included in the law |
| Single-use paper carryout bags ban | Included in the law, except for grocery stores equal to or larger than 2,500 square feet |
| Plastic bag usage | Increased by nearly three times |
| Greenhouse gas emissions from bag use | Increased by 500% |
| Reusable bags usage | Used only 2-3 times on average |
| Reusable bags material | Non-woven polypropylene, which is not widely recycled and doesn't contain post-consumer recycled materials |
| Reusable bags impact | Increased plastic consumption and contributed to higher greenhouse gas emissions |
| Legislation to reverse the ban | Proposed by Assemblyman John Azzariti Jr. in February 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
New Jersey's plastic bag ban backfires
In 2020, New Jersey passed a law banning single-use plastic and paper bags in all stores and food service businesses. The law, which came into effect in May 2022, was intended to cut down on plastic waste and benefit the environment. However, the ban has had some unintended consequences, and some argue that it has backfired.
One issue is that while the number of plastic bags used in New Jersey initially decreased by over 60%, the alternative bags that replaced them ended up having a much larger carbon footprint. Plastic consumption in the state actually increased by nearly three times following the ban, according to a study by Freedonia Custom Research. This increase in plastic consumption has resulted in a spike in greenhouse gas emissions from the use of bags, with a 500% increase reported by some sources.
The Freedonia study also found that the new reusable bags are rarely reused, with an average of just two to three uses per bag. In order to have a positive environmental impact, shoppers would need to reuse the bags a minimum of 16 times. Many people in New Jersey are now using reusable bags as single-use bags, which means that the bags are often simply thrown away, piling up in landfills and homes.
The ban has also created a new revenue stream for retailers, who are charging consumers 200-300% of the cost of reusable bags. An in-depth cost analysis found that a typical store can profit $200,000 per store location from alternative bag sales.
In addition to the environmental and economic impacts, there are also potential health concerns associated with the ban. A study of grocery shoppers' reusable bags found large numbers of bacteria in almost all of the bags, with coliform bacteria present in half of them. This is because the majority of shoppers said they rarely or never washed their reusable bags.
Overall, while New Jersey's plastic bag ban was intended to reduce plastic waste and benefit the environment, it has instead led to increased plastic consumption, higher emissions, and additional profits for retailers. The ban has also resulted in a buildup of reusable bags in landfills and homes, and potential health risks associated with bacteria on the bags. These unintended consequences have led some to argue that the ban has backfired.
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Plastic consumption increases
New Jersey passed a law in 2020 banning single-use plastic and paper bags in all stores and food service businesses, which came into effect in May 2022. The ban was intended to reduce plastic consumption and address the problem of plastic pollution. However, several studies have shown that New Jersey's plastic consumption has tripled since the implementation of the ban.
The Freedonia Custom Research study revealed that while the total number of plastic bags decreased by more than 60% to 894 million bags, the alternative bags resulted in a nearly threefold increase in plastic consumption. The state's plastic consumption increased from 53 million pounds of plastic before the ban to 151 million pounds after. This increase is attributed to the use of heavier, reusable shopping bags made with non-woven polypropylene, which uses over 15 times more plastic per bag than polyethylene plastic bags.
The alternative bags are not widely recycled and do not typically contain any post-consumer recycled materials. Additionally, they generate more than five times the amount of greenhouse gas emissions during production. The Freedonia study also found that 90% of the new reusable bags were only used two or three times before being discarded, ending up in landfills and homes. This is contrary to the environmental goal of reducing plastic waste.
The spike in plastic consumption can also be attributed to the simultaneous increase in grocery pickup and delivery services, which often require new alternative bags for each transaction. As a result, alternative bag sales have grown exponentially, and retailers have profited significantly from these sales. The shift in bag materials has led to a notable environmental impact, with a 500% increase in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2015 levels.
The unintended consequences of New Jersey's plastic bag ban highlight the complexities of addressing plastic pollution. While the ban successfully reduced the number of single-use plastic bags, it inadvertently led to increased plastic consumption and environmental impacts due to the choice of alternative bag materials and consumer habits.
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Greenhouse gas emissions rise
In 2020, New Jersey passed a law banning single-use plastic and paper bags in all stores and food service businesses. The law, which came into effect in May 2022, was intended to cut down on plastic waste and reduce the state's plastic consumption. However, the ban appears to have had unintended consequences, with reports suggesting that it has led to a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
Before the ban, New Jersey used 53 million pounds of plastic. Following the ban, plastic consumption rose to 151 million pounds, nearly three times the previous amount. This increase is attributed to the switch to heavier, reusable shopping bags made with non-woven polypropylene, which uses 15 times more plastic per bag than traditional polyethylene plastic bags. The production of these alternative bags generates five times the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, leading to a 500% increase in emissions compared to the use of single-use plastic bags.
The ban also appears to have had limited success in reducing overall plastic bag usage. While the number of plastic bags used in New Jersey decreased by over 60%, dropping to 894 million bags, the new reusable bags are often used just two or three times before being discarded, falling far short of the 16 times minimum reuse needed to have a positive environmental impact. This has resulted in a proliferation of reusable bags, which are not widely recycled and contribute to growing landfills.
The consequences of New Jersey's bag ban highlight the complexities of environmental policy and serve as a cautionary tale for policymakers. While well-intentioned, the rapid push for certain green initiatives without thorough cost-benefit analyses can sometimes lead to unintended negative outcomes. In this case, the ban's focus on single-use plastic bags may have overlooked the broader impact of alternative solutions, underscoring the need for comprehensive evaluations to ensure that policies deliver their intended environmental benefits.
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Reusable bags rarely reused
In 2020, New Jersey passed a law banning single-use plastic and paper bags in all stores and food service businesses, which came into effect in May 2022. While the total number of plastic bags decreased by over 60%, the alternative bags ended up having a much larger carbon footprint, with the state's plastic consumption for bags increasing by nearly three times.
The ban encouraged the use of thicker, reusable shopping bags, which use over 15 times more plastic and generate five times the amount of greenhouse gas emissions during production per bag than polyethylene plastic bags. However, these alternative bags were not widely recycled and are often not made from post-consumer recycled materials.
A study by Freedonia Custom Research found that 90% of the new reusable bags were used just two or three times and ended up in landfills or homes. For reusable bags to have a positive impact on the environment, they need to be reused a minimum of 16 times. Many people forget to bring their reusable bags when shopping, and the increase in grocery delivery services has led to a rise in alternative bag sales, contributing to the problem.
Some people argue that the focus on reusable bags is a distraction from addressing the root causes of environmental issues. The effectiveness of reusable bags depends on the material, with a cotton bag needing to be used 131 times to offset the climate impact of a single-use plastic bag. Additionally, reusable bags can contribute to the spread of bacteria if not washed regularly, potentially causing health concerns.
While the intention behind New Jersey's plastic bag ban was commendable, the increase in plastic consumption and carbon footprint of alternative bags highlights the complexities of addressing environmental challenges. To make a positive impact, it is essential to consider the entire life cycle of a product and encourage mindful consumption and reuse practices.
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Plastic bag ban may be reversed
In 2020, New Jersey passed a law banning single-use plastic and paper bags in all stores and food service businesses. The law came into effect in May 2022 and was praised by environmental groups. While the number of plastic bags decreased by more than 60%, the alternative bags had a larger carbon footprint, with plastic consumption increasing by nearly three times. This led to a 500% increase in greenhouse gas emissions from the use of bags.
The ban may have backfired as most stores switched to heavier, reusable shopping bags made with non-woven polypropylene, which uses 15 times more plastic and generates five times the amount of greenhouse gas emissions during production per bag than polyethylene plastic bags. These alternative bags were also not widely recycled and are often not reused enough times to have a positive environmental impact. A study by Freedonia Custom Research found that 90% of the new reusable bags were used just two or three times and ended up in landfills or homes.
The increase in plastic consumption and greenhouse gas emissions has led to discussions about reversing the plastic bag ban in New Jersey. However, it is important to note that the total number of plastic bags did decrease significantly following the ban. There are also concerns that reversing the ban may not address the underlying issues, as seen in other cities and states that have repealed similar policies. For example, in Dallas, Texas, a 5-cent fee for single-use bags was imposed and then repealed when the city faced lawsuits. While plastic bag sales initially declined, they eventually returned to pre-policy levels.
The effectiveness of plastic bag bans varies depending on the specific legislation and location. Some cities, like Santa Barbara, California, have seen success in reducing plastic bag usage by banning them in supermarkets, drug stores, and convenience stores. However, other cities, like Philadelphia, have seen less significant results. The complexity of these issues is further highlighted by the fact that banning plastic bags may lead to an increase in the use of paper bags, which can have even greater negative environmental impacts due to their higher energy and water consumption, as well as increased greenhouse gas emissions and solid waste production.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, plastic bags may be coming back to NJ soon. In February 2025, NJ Assemblyman John Azzariti Jr. proposed a bill that would reverse the state's ban on plastic bags and plastic straws.
The bill to bring back plastic bags was proposed because the current ban on single-use plastics, Styrofoam, and paper carryout bags has resulted in a nearly threefold increase in plastic consumption. The reusable bags that replaced single-use plastic bags are not widely recycled and are contributing to a 500% increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
It is currently unclear when, or if, plastic bags will come back to NJ as the bill proposed by Assemblyman John Azzariti Jr. still needs to be passed.
