AR283

An Assembly Resolution encouraging businesses to stop providing disposable plastic straws and stirrers to customers in favor of reusable options.

Whereas, New Jersey’s oceans, beaches, and waterways are among the State’s most iconic and beloved natural resources; and

Whereas, These invaluable and unique ecological environments are increasingly under threat from an increase in plastic pollutants; and

Whereas, Plastic straws and stirrers are an increasingly large proportion of the plastic waste found in the waters of the State, and are frequently listed as the most commonly found trash items at beach clean-ups; and

Whereas, Disposable plastic straws and stirrers are used for mere moments, but last indefinitely as discarded waste, as they are not suitable for traditional recycling of plastics, and are discarded in landfills or as litter; and

Whereas, Birds and marine life may mistake these items for food, and die from poisoning or choking in the attempt to consume them; and

Whereas, Large plastics degrade into microplastics, which enter the food chain and pose a significant threat to filter feeders who are exposed to consuming large amounts of plastic; and

Whereas, The World Economic Forum has warned that at the present rate, there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050; and

Whereas, Many cities across the country have already introduced legislation limiting the distribution of disposable plastic straws, including Seattle, Malibu, and Miami Beach; and

Whereas, Businesses in the State have a duty as community leaders to set a positive example of environmental stewardship; and

Whereas, Businesses, as bulk buyers of consumer plastics, are uniquely situated to have a major impact on the amount of single-use plastics that enter the consumer stream, and ultimately, the waste stream; and

Whereas, Most customers do not need a disposable plastic straw or stirrer, but use them out of habit and the fact that they are provided automatically at most businesses; and

Whereas, Many companies produce reusable straws made out of stainless steel, plastics, or bamboo, the use of which would greatly reduce the amount of plastic entering the waste stream; and

Whereas, Explaining to customers why a business has elected not to provide disposable plastic straws and stirrers in favor of reusable ones is a good opportunity to advertise a business’s corporate social responsibility practices; and

Whereas, Businesses that stop providing disposable plastic straws and stirrers in favor of reusable ones will help reduce consumer demand as more businesses would be encouraged to stop offering these single-use plastics in the first instance; and

Whereas, Highlighting the environmental impact of disposable plastic straw and stirrer use to customers will encourage New Jerseyans to make other environmentally minded decisions in their personal lives; and

Whereas, Many large companies, such as McDonalds, have already started to phase out disposable plastic straws in their stores in favor of other alternatives, such as paper straws, and the same opportunity is available to companies in the State; and

Whereas, The State and its citizenry, including its corporate citizens, have a duty to keep New Jersey’s shores pristine and free of harmful debris now and for generations to come; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House encourages the businesses of the State to stop providing disposable plastic straws and stirrers to customers in favor of reusable straws and stirrers, in order to reduce the amount of plastics in the waters of the State and set a positive example of corporate social responsibility for the rest of the nation to follow.

2. The Governor and the Commissioner of Environmental Protection are respectfully requested to issue similar proclamations to this one in order to raise public awareness of this pressing environmental issue.

3. Copies of this resolution, as filed with Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Governor of New Jersey, the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the New Jersey Food Council, the New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association, the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, and the New Jersey Business and Industry Association.

STATEMENT

This resolution encourages New Jersey businesses to stop providing disposable plastic straws and stirrers to customers in favor of reusable ones.

New Jersey’s oceans, beaches, and waterways are among the State’s most iconic and beloved natural resources, and these invaluable and unique ecological environments are increasingly under threat from an increase in plastic pollutants. Plastic straws and stirrers are an increasingly large proportion of the plastic waste found in the waters of the State, and although disposable plastic straws and stirrers are used for mere moments, they last indefinitely as discarded waste.

Plastic straws and stirrers are not suitable for traditional recycling of plastics, and are discarded in landfills or as litter. Plastic straws and stirrers are frequently listed as the most commonly found trash at beach clean-ups. Furthermore, birds and marine life may mistake these items for food, and die from poisoning or choking in the attempt to consume them. Large plastics degrade into microplastics, which enter the food chain and pose a significant threat to filter feeders who are exposed to consuming large amounts of plastic. The World Economic Forum has warned that at the present rate, there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050.

Many cities across the country have already introduced legislation limiting the distribution of disposable plastic straws, including Seattle, Malibu, and Miami Beach. Businesses in the State have a duty as community leaders to set a positive example about environmental stewardship, and as bulk buyers of consumer plastics, businesses are uniquely situated to have a major impact on the amount of single-use plastics that end up entering the consumer stream, and ultimately, the waste stream. Most customers do not need a disposable plastic straw or stirrer, but use them out of habit and the fact that they are provided automatically at most businesses. Many companies produce reusable straws made out of stainless steel, plastics, or bamboo, the use of which would greatly reduce the amount of plastic entering the waste stream. Explaining to customers why a business has elected not to provide disposable plastic straws and stirrers is a good opportunity to advertise a business’s corporate responsibility, and businesses that stop providing disposable plastic straws and stirrers will help reduce consumer demand and encourage others to stop offering these single-use plastics in the first instance.

Highlighting the environmental impact of disposable plastic straw and stirrer use to customers will encourage New Jerseyans to make other environmentally minded decisions in their personal lives. Many large companies, such as McDonalds, have already started to phase out disposable plastic straws in their stores in favor of other alternatives such as paper straws, and the same opportunity is available to local companies in the State. The State and its citizenry, including its corporate citizens, have a duty to keep New Jersey’s shores pristine and free of harmful debris now and for generations to come, and the businesses of the State should set a positive example of corporate social responsibility for the rest of the nation to follow.