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The bill would ban the provision of single-use, plastic carryout bags at any point of sale.
By Michael V. Cusenza
Tote-all recall.
Governor Andrew Cuomo this week introduced a program bill that would ban all single-use, plastic carryout bags at any point of sale in New York.
Cuomo’s move on Monday follows the findings in the State Plastic Bags Task Force report. Releasedaarlier this year, the analysis outlined the environmental impact of plastic bags, single-use bag reduction measures, and proposed actions that the State could take to reduce pollution and protect NY’s natural resources.
New York City alone estimates a savings of $12.5 million in disposal costs by reducing the number of single-use plastic bags. These costs do not include the significant cleanup costs to remove plastic through litter collection programs and beach and ocean cleanup efforts. Additionally, the ban will reduce the raw materials and natural resources used to make, transport, and recycle these bags. Fewer carryout bags given away at checkout could result in decreased recycling and disposal costs for municipalities and municipal recycling facilities.
The administration also noted that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 80 percent of plastic pollution in the ocean originated on land, which includes plastic bags, and in New York, residents use 23 billion plastic bags annually, which contributes to pollution both on and off land.
The bags do not biodegrade and they persist for years, Cuomo said.
The governor’s bill would ban the provision of single-use, plastic carryout bags at any point of sale, and would provide the Department of Environmental Conservation with exclusive jurisdiction over all matters related to plastic bags and film plastic recycling. The bill exempts garment bags, trash bags, and any bags used to wrap or contain certain foods, such as fruits and sliced meats. The measure would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2019.
“As the old proverb goes: ‘We did not inherit the earth, we are merely borrowing it from our children,’” Cuomo said, “and with this action we are helping to leave a stronger, cleaner and greener New York for all.”
Additionally, the State has pledged to undertake an education and outreach campaign to increase consumer awareness of single-use bags and their harmful impact on the environment. Efforts will also seek to educate consumers on the impact plastic bags have on the environment and the waste stream, and promote reusable bags.
Some are hailing Cuomo’s measure as the preferred alternative to a plastic-bag tax.
“As a member of the Senate Environmental Committee, I am glad to see Gov. Andrew Cuomo taking a stand against single-use plastic bags across New York State,” said State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach). “His proposed bill is a great step forward in protecting our environment, and a positive step away from a bag tax that would push an extra cost onto consumers. I always believed the plastic bag issue could have been addressed without implementing a penalty on our residents. I look forward to working on this important environmental concern.”
Last year, Cuomo blocked the passage of a City law that would have imposed a 5-cent tax on the use of plastic bags.
