(1) no store or food service business shall provide or sell a single-use plastic carryout bag to a customer; and

(2) no grocery store shall provide or sell a single-use paper carryout bag to a customer.

b. A municipality or county shall not adopt any rule, regulation, code, or ordinance concerning the regulation or prohibition of single-use plastic carryout bags or single-use paper carryout bags after the effective date of P.L.2020, c.117 (C. 13:1E-99.126 et al.).

c. Beginning 18 months after the effective date of P.L.2020, c.117 (C. 13:1E-99.126 et al.), this section shall supersede and preempt any municipal or county rule, regulation, code, or ordinance concerning the regulation or prohibition of single-use plastic carryout bags or single-use paper carryout bags that was enacted prior to the effective date of P.L.2020, c.117 (C. 13:1E-99.126 et al.).

d. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of this section to the contrary, beginning 24 months after the effective date of P.L.2020, c.117 (C. 13:1E-99.126 et al.), no food bank or food pantry shall provide a single-use plastic carryout bag to a customer.

As used in this subsection:

“Food bank” means the same as the term is defined in section 2 of P.L.1982, c.178 (C. 24:4A-2).

“Food pantry” means a nonprofit organization or government entity that distributes food to individuals in need of assistance, including, but not limited to, a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or religious organization.

L.2020, c.117, s.3; amended 2022, c.6, s.1.