The following information is from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. 

Starting May 4, 2022, New Jersey retail stores, grocery stores and food service businesses may not provide or sell single use 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 2500 square feet, which may only provide or sell reusable carryout bags.  (As of November 4, 2021, plastic straws could only be provided upon request of the customer.)

What’s it all breakdown to?

GROCERY STORE 2500 SQ FT OR LARGER

               New Normal for Consumers

  • Customers can bring reusable bags to the store
  • Store sells reusable bags

What is Not Permitted

  • Store cannot provide a single-use plastic or paper bag which includes at checkout, curbside pick up, home delivery.

What are the exceptions

  • Bags for loose items such as fruits and vegetables, flowers
  • Polystyrene foam for raw and deli sliced meats, poultry and fish trays*
  • Polystrene foam for grocery items pre-packaged by a manufacturer *

RESTAURANT INCLUDING FAST FOOD AND DELIVERY

               New normal for Consumers

  • Restaurants can provide single use bags
  • Food served or delivered in plastic, paper or aluminum containers
  • Customers bring a reusable bag
  • Restaurants only provide plastic straws when requested.

What is not permitted

  • Restaurants cannot provide a single use plastic bag**
  • Restaurants cannot serve or deliver food in polystyrene

What are the exceptions

  • Paper straws are exempt and can be given without a request
  • Polystyrene portion cups of two ounces or less, if used for hot foods or foods requiring lids are exempt *
  • Polystyrene disposable long handled soda spoons when required and used for thick drinks are exempt *

PHARMACY

               New normal for Consumers

  • Pharmacy may provide single use paper bags
  • Customer can bring a reusable bag

What is not permitted

  • Pharmacy cannot provide single-use plastic bags **

What are the exceptions

  • Plastic bags for prescriptions are exempt 

RETAIL STORES

               New normal for Consumers

  • Retail stores may provide single use paper bags

What is not permitted

  • Store is not permitted to provide single use plastic bags**

IN YOUR HOME

               New normal for residents

  • Residents CAN re-use single use plastic bags at home or in store
  • Residents can buy and use paper lunch bags

What is not permitted

  • Residents can no longer purchase polystyrene plates, cups or utensils

What are the exceptions

  • Plastic utensils or plastic or paper plates and cups are exempt

Complete details can be found at   https://www.nj.gov/dep/get-past-plastic/

*Polystyrene exemptions effective until May 4, 2024

**Single bag restriction goes into effective May 4, 2022