New Jersey Bans Plastic and Paper Bags

New Jersey is banning plastic and paper single-use bags, along with polystyrene foam food containers and cups starting in May 2022. The law, signed by Governor Phil Murphy in November 2020, is one of the strictest plastics bans in the US. Plastic bags which are used to hold loose fruits, vegetables, and nuts, as well as baked goods, meat and cheese sliced to order, dry-cleaned clothes, and newspapers are exempt from the ban. The law also requires that restaurants and other food businesses provide patrons with single-use plastic straws only upon request starting in November 2021.