Name: Countdown to NJ’s 2022 Ban on Plastic Bags and Polystyrene Foam
Start: 2021-10-06T12:30:00-04:00
End: 2021-10-06T13:30:00-04:00
Location: Virtual

Countdown to NJ’s 2022 Ban on Plastic Bags and Polystyrene Foam

October 6, 2021 @ 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

The Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce Presents “Countdown to NJ’s 2022 Ban on Plastic Bags and Polystyrene Foam” as part of the Chamber’s Workforce and Business Resources Series: Connecting You With What You Need to Know. The Program is Courtesy of The Human Resources and Government Affairs Committees.

Countdown to NJ’s 2022 Ban on Plastic Bags and Polystyrene Foam

The New Jersey Business Action Center, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, and the New Jersey Clean Communities Council are working together to help businesses prepare for a new law, effective May 4, 2022, which ends the use of all single-use plastic carryout bags and polystyrene foam food service products, and the use of single-use paper carryout bags at grocery stores at or over 2500 square feet in size. This applies to all retail stores, grocery stores and food service businesses statewide, from restaurants and delis to food trucks and cafeterias. In addition, plastic straws will be limited to by-customer-request-only after November 4, 2021. Find out what you need to know to comply with the law and resources to help you prepare now.

Our 1-Hour Program Will Cover:

What are the elements of the new plastic ban law?
Does the new law pertain to me? Are there any exemptions or waivers?
What educational resources are available to help local governments and businesses with outreach?
What resources are available to assist towns, municipalities and the public comply?

Presented by: Janet Robertson, Project Manager, NJ Business Action Center; Erin Jensen, Environmental Specialist, Div. of Solid/Hazardous Waste, NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection; and JoAnn Gemenden, Executive Director, NJ Clean Communities Council

Free for Members (Limited to 50)

Non-Members – $25 – Please E-Mail kathy@mcrcc.org.

Click Here To Register

Meet Your Presenters

Janet Robertson

Project Manager, NJ Business Action Center

Janet Robertson is Project Manager with the NJ Business Action Center, part of the Department of State. The NJBAC is responsible for communicating with all businesses about their responsibilities under the new law and providing online resources to support business compliance. Robertson is a NJ native, who previously served Central/Southern NJ businesses, promoting exports and foreign direct investment into NJ, as a Commercial Officer with the U.S. Commercial Service, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Erin Jensen

Environmental Specialist, Div. of Solid/Hazardous Waste, NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection

Erin Jensen is an Environmental Specialist with the Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste at the NJDEP. She is the lead on implementing the Plastics Bag Ban law at the Department and also leads the Municipal Tonnage Grant program. She has been with the Department for over 4 years and in addition to leading the bag ban implementation she is also the DEP contact for Recycle Coach.

JoAnn Gemenden

Executive Director, New Jersey Clean Communities

JoAnn Gemenden is in her inaugural year as Executive Director of the New Jersey Clean Communities Council where she is tasked with implementing NJ’s outreach and education program for the single use plastics ban.

Prior to being named to this post, JoAnn served as the Bureau Chief of Recycling in Union County for 35 years where she was both Recycling and Clean Communities Coordinator.

She has vast experience in environmental education and works to promote behavior change when it comes to keeping NJ litter free and reducing our reliance on plastic.