The City of Hoboken’s ban on single use plastic bags begins on January 22, 2019. On that date, single use plastic carry-out bags will bebanned at all retail and food establishments. The ban, originally drafted by Councilman Jim Doyle and the Hoboken Green Team, was passed unanimously by the City Council and signed into law by Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla on June 22, 2018.
“Hoboken is committed to environmentally friendly policiesthat help mitigate the impact of climate change and reduce pollution on our streets,” said Mayor Bhalla. “This ban, initiated by the Hoboken Green Team,will go a long way to reducing Hoboken's reliance on harmful plastic bags, and I'm proud Hoboken is at the forefront of progressive environmental policies.”
The following bags are still allowed for free:
• Produce bags (fruits and vegetables)
• Product bags (packaging)
• Bags used to contain frozen foods, meat, fish, flowers, plants or baked goods
• Pharmacy prescription bags
• Newspaper bags
• Laundry or dry-cleaning bags
• Packages of multiple bags (food storage bags, garbage bags, pet waste bags)
Starting January 22, businesses must provide paper bags for a fee of 10-25 cents. The fee is collected and kept by the business to help cover the cost of purchasing the compliant bags. Residents are encouraged to bring their own reusable bags whenever possible.
The City will consider a request for a temporary exemption from the plastic bag ban under extraordinary circumstances. Businesses must fill out this form to be considered: https://seam.ly/t6kOgcxj.
In preparation of the ban, Mayor Ravi Bhalla and the Hoboken Green Team will be handing out free reusable bags, obtained through a Clean Communities grant, at the following events:
• Rotary Club Meeting: January 15, 12 PM at Brass Rail
• Columbian Arms Resident Meeting: January 17, 6:30 PM at Columbian Arms
• Hoboken Elks Winter Festival: January 19 at 4 PM
• Mutzfest: January 27, 2-6 PM at Hoboken Elks Lodge
• Hoboken State of the City Address: January 29, 6:30 PM at Stevens Institute of Technology
• Stevens Institute of Technology: January 30 at 3 PM at Pierce Dining Hall
Hudson County’s bike share program, JerseyBike, alongside Don’t Sit Home, is also hosting an event to distribute reusable bags to the community in Hoboken on January 15, 2019 from 6 pm - 8 pm, at Union Hall Hoboken.
For more information on the new plastic bag regulations, please visit www.hobokennj.gov/plasticbags
