Starting in May, many single use bags and containers will be banned in New Jersey, after Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation to address plastic pollution in the state. One of the strongest bans in the nation, it prohibits the use of single use plastic and paper bags, as well as Styrofoam containers and cups. Additional items that are more specific and challenging for businesses to replace – like prepackaged food service products and trays for butchered meat – will be exempt for an additional two years, until they are also banned in May of 2024.This issue appeared to be coming to the forefront right before the pandemic, in 2019 and early 2020, before it was understandably moved to the back burner. At that time, several Livingston Township Council meetings featured discussions with a plastics committee, which included residents and local business owners, about how to implement these changes in town.In the time since those initial talks, just looking at what has happened in Livingston, we have seen severe weather events that are a direct result of climate change. That issue, of course, is the reason for this plastic bag ban in the first place – an attempt to stop greenhouse gasses from warming the planet by limiting the amount of plastic production, the majority of which is either never recycled or, ultimately, unrecyclable.We are pleased to see this ban go into effect, and while it may force some residents to make adjustments, we are confident that all will quickly adapt. Many, we are sure, are already well versed in limiting their plastic, utilizing paper straws, canvas shopping bags, and more. These are becoming much more common and will continue to be in the coming months.It is all well and good to see people making personal changes – limiting overall plastic use, installing solar panels on their homes, buying electric vehicles, and so much more – to combat the growing threat of climate change by limiting their personal carbon emissions. But forgive us for still feeling frustrated. While we, the people, willingly alter our lifestyles to keep our planet inhabitable, the biggest offenders continue to skirt meaningful changes.The most striking figure we have seen in regard to this issue came in a study released a few years ago, which stated that just 100 companies – many of them gas, coal, and oil-based businesses – are the source of more than 70 ...
