Senate commerce committee releases bill to allow recyclable paper grocery bags after hours of testimony

Senate Commerce Committee members voted unanimously to release S.3413 on March 24, 2025, a bill that would permit grocery stores to provide specified single‑use paper carryout bags made from recycled fiber.

Proponents, including representatives of paper manufacturers, unions and the American Forest & Paper Association, told the committee the change would restore local paper‑bag manufacturing jobs and rely on a curbside recycling stream available to most New Jersey households. “These paper bags are locally produced, they’re reusable, sustainable, and the only grocery bag that consumers can recycle at home in their curbside bin,” said Ryan Carroll, senior director of government affairs, American Forest and Paper Association.

Opponents — environmental groups, food banks and the New Jersey Food Council — said the statewide single‑use product ban enacted in 2022 produced a uniform system that encouraged reusable bags and created a redistribution program to donate reusable bags to food banks and senior centers. “This law has significantly reduced waste; reintroducing single‑use paper bags would undermine that progress,” said Martie Young of Clean Water Action. The New Jersey Food Council said the reuse and redistribution program was expanding and warned that reintroducing paper could reduce incentives to use reusable bags.

Union witnesses and workers from Durobag described the bag‑manufacturing workforce in Union County and urged lawmakers to consider local jobs. “It’s a good place to work…there’s a lot of people that have been there over 30 years,” said Kenneth Gooden, who said he has worked at Durobag for 20 years. Vidal Diaz of ILA Local 1478‑2 testified the product is recyclable and that plant jobs depend on the market for paper bags.

Committee members pressed witnesses on recycling rates and program details. Mary Ellen Papard of the New Jersey Food Council said the group estimated a small proportion of reusable bags are donated but defended the statewide uniform policy reached in 2022, calling it important for multistate retailers. Environmental groups pointed to Monmouth University polling showing broad public awareness and behavioral change since implementation of the 2022 law and cited research they said shows paper bags must be reused several times to equal the environmental profile of reusable bags.

The committee recorded a roll call on the motion to release S.3413: Senators Bramnick, Singer, Johnson, Vice Chair Kryon and Chairman Lagana voted yes. The motion passed and the bill was released from committee for further consideration.

The bill drew strongly divided testimony but no amendment was adopted during the hearing. Committee members and witnesses acknowledged ongoing questions about recycling rates, program administration for bag redistribution and the extent of economic impacts on manufacturers and small businesses.

S.3413 will proceed to further committee or floor action as scheduled by the Senate leadership.