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Interior of a busy supermarket

Interior of a busy supermarket

As a consumer, I developed the habit of buying plastic bags from grocery stores. While bringing these bags home, I later used them as garbage bags, fitting them in small bins. Finally, on May 4, 2022, New Jersey had put its strictest plastic bag ban into effect. According to the plastic bag law, “The NJ bag ban law states that a person or entity that violates the law will be warned for a first offense, fined up to $1,000 per day for the second offense, and fined up to $5,000 per day for the third subsequent violation. Violations of a continuing nature constitute an additional, separate, and distinct offense for each day of that violation.”

It seemed very easy but when the law was actually applied, the reaction of the consumers was mixed. Some were happy that, finally, ocean pollution will get some relief, and perhaps we will be able to save some marine life. On the other hand, some people were very frustrated when they were not provided with plastic bags at grocery stores. Instead, they had to buy reusable bags themselves. Although the first few weeks were chaotic, it has now been three months, and consumers have adapted this new style, which indeed is helping our earth to some extent. 

Plastic bags are one of the things Americans have relied on to store their food after grocery shopping. But Walmart recently put a ban on plastic bags, and they have gotten more creative with deliveries, food wise. After New Jersey banned plastic bags entirely in the state, to help the environment, the people at Walmart used their reusable bags and boxes to do grocery deliveries. But in the end, it created more waste to the consumers than necessary. I have three Walmart bags to store dirty clothes whenever I travel if I don’t have access to a washing machine. I’m not against Walmart getting rid of plastic bags, but it did make more waste than necessary for what people are used to in New Jersey.

I do not mind the ban on plastic bags. One state moving in the right direction is better than none. Future generations in NJ won’t miss what they never had, so soon enough it will become standard to bring your own bags. My only gripe is with myself: 400 reusable bags in my car, and somehow I manage to enter the store empty-handed more times than not. Sometimes I even buy a reusable bag while I’m there.  One positive note is that I notice I purchase less because I know I will likely be carrying my items in my hand when I leave the store. With prices going up, that is a win for my pocket!

I understand that the state banned plastic bags to save the environment. But when people go food shopping or even buy stuff from Walmart for a party, they don’t see plastic bags anywhere and end up forgetting their own bags at home. It can be frustrating at times because sometimes people forget that there are no plastic bags anywhere, and so they would have to get bags from wherever they are shopping and pay for them. One positive thing that I find in the state banning plastic bags is that once you order as many bags as you need for food shopping, or shopping for personal items and parties, people can leave some bags in their house and in their car just to be prepared.

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I totally agree with the environmental aspect and found this law useful in that matter. However when we look at the small business side as well, we experience several hardships almost daily. It is especially difficult for the workers, delivery people and also customers since most of the paper bags are not as long lasting as the plastic ones which creates several accidents in the food businesses. Paper bags are highly preferred by businesses considering the cost compared to the quality reusable bags. It is a great law in terms of environment, however creates several difficulties for people in businesses.

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