In August 2018, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, vetoed a bill that would have imposed a five-cent fee on both paper and plastic carryout bags, arguing that the legislation did not do enough to protect the Garden State's famed natural beauty.
"Single-use carryout bags—particularly plastic bags—represent a significant source of the litter that clutters our communities and mars New Jersey's beautiful shoreline and parks," wrote Murphy in his veto statement. "Instituting a five-cent fee on single-use bags that only applies to certain retailers does not go far enough."
That was until late last week, when Sen. Bob Smith (D–Middlesex), one of the bill's sponsors, announced his intention to amend S2776 to ban these same stores from handing out paper bags too.
Still, one wonders what the practical effects of Smith's amendment, as well as the wider plastic bag ban, will be.
https://reason.com/2019/05/07/new-jersey-politician-wants-to-ban-all-bags-paper-or-plastic/
"Single-use carryout bags—particularly plastic bags—represent a significant source of the litter that clutters our communities and mars New Jersey's beautiful shoreline and parks," wrote Murphy in his veto statement. "Instituting a five-cent fee on single-use bags that only applies to certain retailers does not go far enough."
That was until late last week, when Sen. Bob Smith (D–Middlesex), one of the bill's sponsors, announced his intention to amend S2776 to ban these same stores from handing out paper bags too.
Still, one wonders what the practical effects of Smith's amendment, as well as the wider plastic bag ban, will be.
https://reason.com/2019/05/07/new-jersey-politician-wants-to-ban-all-bags-paper-or-plastic/