Plastic Bag Ban Returns To Parsippany Sept. 8

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Parsippany's ban on single-use plastic bags will return Sept. 8, Mayor Michael Soriano announced at Tuesday's Township Council meeting. The township placed a moratorium on enforcing the ban in March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Many towns paused their plastic bag bans during the pandemic, because of concerns about the virus clinging to reusable surfaces.

Parsippany's council had voted in July 2019 to ban single-use plastic bags, as well as paper bags that aren't 100 percent recyclable. The ban began February 6, 2020, as the township encouraged the public to bring their own reusable bags to businesses.

With many coronavirus restrictions waning, the ban will make a return Sept. 8. Health officials and the Department of Public Works are working to inform the public, including retailers. See what's banned and what's allowed here.

"That’s coming to you soon," Soriano said. "The education is coming to the retailers as we speak."

New COVID-19 cases slowed down in Parsippany, compared to earlier in the pandemic. But the township continues to monitor the delta variant.

"We know that we do not have magical borders that will prevent this from coming in," Soriano said. "But the residents here in Parsippany have done well by doing best practices, social distancing, getting themselves vaccinated and staying healthy."

Officials have reported 27 new cases in Parsippany since July 12, bringing the town to 4,295 infections since the pandemic began. Seventy percent of all residents, 82 percent of adults and 94 percent of seniors are fully vaccinated against the virus.

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