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New Jersey lawmakers are set to consider a proposal that could partially ease the state's ban on disposable shopping bags. On Monday (March 24), a state Senate committee will discuss allowing supermarkets and retailers to provide paper bags made from at least 40 percent recycled materials. This proposal aims to address concerns that the current ban has led to an increase in waste from discarded reusable bags.
According to NJ.com, Assemblyman John Azzariti Jr. argues that the unintended consequences of the ban have negated its environmental benefits. He noted that reusable bags are ending up in landfills, and people are buying more plastic bags. However, environmentalists maintain that the ban has successfully reduced plastic waste and should not be weakened.
The current ban, which restricts single-use plastic and paper bags, has been in effect for nearly three years. It has reportedly kept billions of single-use bags out of the waste stream. Linda Doherty, president of the New Jersey Food Council, believes the ban has reduced litter and pollution. She stated, "Shoppers don’t see single-use bags blowing in the wind, wrapped around tree branches, littering beaches, or discarded in a shopping cart."
The proposal to allow paper bags comes amid ongoing debates over packaging waste in New Jersey. As reported by the New Jersey Monitor, a separate bill aiming to reduce single-use plastic packaging has faced delays due to disagreements over exemptions and recycling benchmarks.
Lawmakers are expected to weigh the potential environmental impacts of easing the bag ban against the practical challenges faced by consumers and businesses. The outcome of this proposal could influence similar legislation in other states.