Remember: Reusable Bags Now The Law

Posted July 25th 2022

A reminder for visitors to Avalon and Stone Harbor: The statewide ban on single-use carryout bags and polystyrene foam food-service products is in effect. This means that when you load up your cart at the grocery store with everything you need for the week, if you don’t have reusable bags, plan to purchase some … or unload the cart into your vehicle item by item.

The new regulations were set forth starting May 4 by Gov. Phil Murphy. It is the most advanced law on single-use plastic products in the country. And our vacationers are feeling the effects, especially when visiting from out of state.

The law bans the use of single-use plastic bags, regardless of thickness, in any retail establishments, including food-service businesses and grocery stores. In addition, paper bags are no longer allowed to be used by grocery stores larger than 2,500 square feet. The new regulations also restrict the use of Styrofoam products in food-service locations, meaning no restaurants can serve food out of Styrofoam products.

The boroughs of Avalon and Stone Harbor took the initiative to ban single-use plastic bags, plastic straws and Styrofoam in 2019 as a component of a Clean Water Initiative.

Visit nj.gov/dep for more information – and remember to bring your bags into the store while shopping!