Monmouth Poll: N.J. backs single-use plastic bag ban; oppose ban on paper bags at grocery stores

Most New Jerseyans still back the ban on single-use plastic bags but remain opposed to a ban on supermarkets providing paper bags, a new Monmouth University poll released today shows.

Support for a ban on single-use plastic bags is at 56%-42%  (down from 61% -37% In 2022), and 56% of state residents back the prohibition of foam food containers (down from 64%-33%).

New Jersey residents still want paper shopping bags when they buy groceries: 53% oppose the ban, and 44% support it;  last year, the paper bag ban polled at 47%-51%.   Democrats are split, 49%-49%, while Republicans oppose it by a 53%-44% margin and independents oppose it, 53%-42%,

The state is split over plastic straws, with 50% supporting their banning and 47% supporting it.  The issue polled at 52%-45% in 2022.  Plastic straws look like a more partisan issue: 61% of Democrats back the ban, and 64% of Republicans oppose it; by a 50%-47% margin, independents are split.

“There has been a small dip in support since the state’s plastic bag ban went into effect, but most New Jerseyans are still on board with it,” said Monmouth University Polling Institute director Patrick Murray.

The plastic bag ban has the backing of 72% of Democrats, but support has dropped among independents (from 62% to 52%) and mainly remained the same among Republicans (from 49% to 43%).

Almost nine in ten New Jerseyans (89%) bring their own bags to the store when grocery shopping, and just 9% had not heard of the plastic bag ban.   Nearly all businesses are following the new state law, residents say.

Most New Jerseyans (62%) keep extra reusable bags they receive, while 20% recycle them and 7% throw them away.

The ban went into effect in May 2022.

The poll was conducted between August 10-14 with a sample size of 814 New Jersey adults and a margin of error of +/- 5.4%.