From the rain that meets our gardens to the rivers that nourish ecosystems and oceans that cradle sacred Earth, water connects us all. Water is the source and sustainer, the spirit of all life. And today, water is under siege.
Across the nation and into our watersheds, an invisible tide of toxins continues to rise. PFAS, PFOA, microplastics and chemical runoff—particularly from golf courses during prolonged drought warnings—are leaching into the water table, threatening both ecosystems and our bodies. Each sip, every swim, every sacred ritual involving water is now shadowed by the legacy of plastic and the chemical industry’s disregard for life.
We cannot ignore this crisis any longer. We are literally ingesting plastic, with studies confirming microplastics in our bloodstreams, organs, even in unborn children. Instead of moving toward healing and wisdom, some lawmakers are trying to roll back progress. What spiritual, ecological, or economic justification for adding more plastic to the world can there be?
Thankfully we are not powerless. New Jersey municipalities are adopting “Skip the Stuff” ordinances to reduce single-use plastic waste and its environmental and economic impact. Through limiting unnecessary distribution of these items, the local ordinance requires food establishments to provide single-use items like utensils, straws and condiments only upon request. A state level “Skip the Stuff” bill (S3195/A5157) would require that restaurants and food service businesses only provide single-use plastic items—such as utensils, napkins, straws and condiment packets—when specifically requested by customers.
Additionally, a statewide bill (S3398/A5009) “Extended producer responsibility” seeks to build on this momentum by requiring packaging producers to take responsibility for the end of life of their products. Shifting the financial responsibility for recycling from taxpayers to producers, this bill seeks to promote more sustainable packaging practices. The bill was recently referred to the Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee.
The following towns have already passed a “Skip the Stuff” ordinance: Stone Harbor, Maplewood, Cape May, Avalon, Camden County, Oceanport, Sea Bright, Long Branch, Red Bank, Garwood, Atlantic Highlands (resolution), Hoboken, Monmouth Beach, Aberdeen, Westfield, Eatontown, Jersey City, Neptune Township, and Montclair. The following are thinking about passing “Skip the Stuff”: Mt Laurel, Boonton, Cranford, Pt. Pleasant Beach, Asbury Park, Evesham, Monroe Twp., Neptune City, Newark, Lavallette, Ocean Township, New Brunswick, Irvington, Somerville, Trenton, and Woodbridge.
Join us in supporting critical legislative efforts that honor the sanctity of water and the interconnectedness of all life:
Skip the Stuff Act (S3195/A5157): Say no to unnecessary plastic utensils and condiments with takeout orders.
“Packaging and Paper Product Stewardship” Act (S3398/A5009): Make corporations responsible for the full lifecycle of the waste they produce.
Let’s call this what it is: a moral, ecological, and spiritual emergency. We invite you to join us by speaking out, contacting your representatives, and demanding a future where water is revered, not polluted. We cannot protect life on Earth without protecting water, and we cannot protect water without rejecting plastic. Water is sacred. Water is life. We must act like it.
Visit Waterspirit’s Calls to Action page for updates and ways to take action today! You can also get trained as a volunteer to join us for in-person actions as this legislation moves forward.