Summit Ban On Single-Use Plastics Takes Effect On Jan. 1

SUMMIT, NJ — Three ordinances restricting the use of single-use plastics by businesses in Summit will go into effect on Jan. 1. They were originally to take effect on May 1, but were postponed as the town battled coronavirus.

Many New Jersey towns passed some form of a plastics ban this year after the state legislature introduced a ban on certain plastic products that pollute the environment, including food containers made with Styrofoam.

This past Wednesday, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill into law that bans the use of single-use plastic and paper bags in all stores and food service businesses statewide, starting in May 2022. The law also bans disposable food containers and cups made out of polystyrene foam (which is Styrofoam).

In Summit:

• The first ordinance prohibits the use of single-use plastic bags by businesses at the point of purchase.
• The second ordinance is a ban on polystyrene food containers.
• The third ordinance limits businesses to provide plastic straws by customer request only.

The Summit Common Council passed these ordinances on Nov. 18 after hosting two community workshops.

The state is encouraging reusable bags instead. Some businesses in towns with plastic bag bans have offered paper bags for a fee.

According to the city of Summit, "The Environmental Protection Agency reports that only 1 percent of the 100 billion plastic bags used by Americans each year are recycled. The remaining amount ends up in landfills, waterways, and neighborhoods. Plastic straws are not recyclable, while Styrofoam containers can take up to 1,000 years to decompose."

For more information on exceptions outlined in the ordinances, visit the city of Summit website.

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