On October 20 2020, New York is finally enforcing its statewide ban on single-use plastic bags. The law actually went into effect last winter, but the pandemic and a lawsuit from plastic bag manufacturers delayed enforcement for months. Now, shops must avoid these bags or face fines up to $500.
Plastic bags won’t completely vanish due to this law, but it will certainly be harder to find the once-everyday objects. Here’s what else you need to know:
The Bag Waste Reduction Law passed after the Democrats took control of both houses of the Legislature in 2019, was part of an effort to curb litter and minimize greenhouse emissions caused by plastic bag production. By one estimate, New Yorkers were using about 23 billion plastic bags each year, 85% of which ended up in landfills, recycling machines (although they are not recyclable in most machines), waterways and streets.
New York was the second state to agree to impose such a ban, after California. At least six other states followed suit, including Vermont and Connecticut. New Jersey last month passed a bill to ban both plastic and paper single-use bags.
There are also exceptions to the ban: restaurants can still give out single-use plastic bags for takeout. Stores can use them for items including uncooked meat, sliced or prepared food, and prescription drugs. Newspaper bags, garment bags and bags sold in bulk, such as trash or recycling bags, are also exempt from the rule.
If you don’t take a reusable bag to a store, paper bags will likely be available for a 5-cent fee. The revenue from that fee will go to the state’s Environmental Protection Fund and programs that distribute reusable bags.
Source: The New York Times
