Piperno, Eulner Collecting Reusable Shopping Bags to Benefit Local Food Banks

To combat the oversupply of reusable grocery bags, the Monmouth County Assemblywomen are announcing a donation drive of new or gently used but clean bags to assist food banks from around the district. Collections will begin Monday, October 17, and run through Thursday, November 17.

Though reusable bags are considered multi-use, they are typically comprised of thicker and denser plastic materials, not often considered recyclable. Additionally, some studies say that it takes ten uses of one reusable bag to offset the energy it takes to manufacture them compared to a single-use plastic bag.

Ten states to date have enacted similar bans. Others have made attempts that have ended unsuccessfully. In Massachusetts, 152 municipalities within the commonwealth have each passed plastic bans, while statewide measures have failed.

This month, the Assemblywomen introduced legislation providing a gross income tax and corporate business tax deductions for store or food service businesses that purchased single-use plastic carryout bags. Another bill introduced would exempt food banks and food pantries from the prohibition of selling or providing single-use plastic or paper carryout bags to customers.

“Unfortunately, New Jersey has a track record of adopting feel-good legislation, no matter how well-intentioned, without considering the economic or environmental effects that only exacerbate the problem,” said the Assemblywomen.

Donations can be dropped off at the 11th Legislative District Office at 55 Gilbert St. N., Suite 1203, Tinton Falls, NJ 07701. For more information, please call (732) 268-8968.