TRENTON, N.J. — Nearly two years after New Jersey’s plastic bag ban took effect, residents across the Garden State are still adjusting — and talking — about the shift, with opinions ranging from begrudging acceptance to full-blown enthusiasm.
A full-blown conversation about the topic just happened on Reddit, which represents what the 20s and 30s demographics think about the bag ban. As older residents gripe and complain, the next generation seems to be coping much better.
The ban, which prohibits most stores from providing single-use plastic bags, has sparked a wave of new shopping habits, with New Jerseyans sharing tips, tricks, and frustrations in an online discussion that drew thousands of responses.
A common thread? Many people forget their reusable bags.
“Most of the time, I don’t even carry my reusable bags in to the store,” one user wrote. “I just throw everything back in the cart and bag it at my car.” Others have found practical alternatives, like keeping a laundry basket in the trunk or using trunk organizers and bins to transport groceries home.
Some shoppers even welcome the change. “I actually like it better,” one commenter noted. “The bags are stronger and I can carry more. And I don’t have hundreds of bags in my house now that I have to recycle.”
The most cited benefit, however, is environmental: fewer plastic bags littering streets, trees, and waterways. “Totally worth it to not have all those plastic bags blowing down the streets,” one resident said.
Another added, “The decrease of bags in trees is amazing.”
Still, not everyone is thrilled. Many miss the convenience of using plastic bags for household tasks, especially as trash can liners or for disposing of cat litter.
Teachers noted their absence as a hassle for sending home students’ wet clothing.
And for some, the growing collection of reusable bags is becoming a new clutter issue — “I have about seventeen hundred reusable shopping bags now,” one commenter joked, “but not a single one ever lives in the trunk of my car when I need it.”
Creative solutions abound. From folding bags into purse-friendly pouches to reusing store boxes in the “Costco way,” residents are finding new rhythms such as bringing boxes and other containers for their purchase.
Others embrace scan-and-bag technology at supermarkets or stash bags by the door to grab on the way out.
Even with mixed feelings and occasional grumbling, the majority agree: the change, while inconvenient at times, has had a visible impact. “It’s not time to reverse this ship,” one shopper wrote. “I can handle it now.”
New Jerseyans on Reddit may still forget their bags, but most agree—less plastic blowing in the breeze is worth the hassle.
Key Points
- Many New Jersey residents support the plastic bag ban despite regularly forgetting reusable bags.
- Shoppers report seeing fewer plastic bags in streets and trees, a commonly cited benefit of the law.
- Creative solutions like laundry baskets, trunk organizers, and scan-and-bag systems help residents adjust.