Plastic bags at Wegman's in East Syracuse. According to experts, New Jerseyans, like other Americans, haven't had single-use plastic bags in their lives for long. How can history prepare us for New Jersey's strict bag ban which starts May 4, 2022? Syracuse Post-Standard

People are hitting the panic button — because they’re surprised, angry or confused — about the imminent plastic bag ban, and don’t know how they’ll get by. But some New Jerseyans probably remember a time when plastic bags at stores weren’t the norm.

Kroger and Safeway, two of the largest grocery chains in the United States, replaced paper bags with the plastic version we know today in 1982. Many more brands would follow. The plastic bags were lightweight, had handles and were cheaper than paper bags. While it took some time, convenience won over the American customer in the end.

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