Statement on the Passage of New Jersey Bill S2776 Out of Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee

“The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed commends the members of the Senate Budget Committee for their support of bill S2776. If passed, New Jersey will join our neighboring states of New York and Delaware in the fight to prevent and reduce single-use plastics from entering our waterways in a robust manner that fits the severity of the issue,” said Sandra Meola, Director, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed. “All too often plastic bags often end up in our waterways, impacting fish, seabirds, and other wildlife through entanglement, ingestion, and ecosystem damage.”

“Seabird species such as ospreys and cormorants are particularly vulnerable to the effects of ingesting plastic particles, and cumulative impacts can lead to intestinal blockage and reproductive failure,” said Drew Tompkins, Policy Director, NJ Audubon. “If passed, S2776 will be one of the strongest and most comprehensive in the country to reduce and prevent single-use plastics from harming wildlife and contaminating habitat. We look forward to working with the New Jersey Legislature and Governor’s office to advance the bill into law.”

###

The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed is a network of 150 non-governmental organizations located in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware that are dedicated to protecting and restoring the natural resources of the Delaware River Basin. For more information, visit www.DelRiverWatershed.org.

New Jersey Audubon was founded in 1897 and fosters environmental awareness and a conservation ethic among New Jersey’s citizens; protects New Jersey’s birds, mammals, other animals, and plants; and promotes preservation of New Jersey’s valuable natural habitats. For more information, visit www.njaudubon.org.