Cuomo Proposes Law To Ban Some Plastic Bags Statewide

If Gov. Andrew Cuomo has his way, New Yorkers will need to bring reusable bags with them to go grocery shopping. The governor proposed a bill April 23 that would ban giving out single-use, plastic carryout bags at any point of sale, with the exceptions being garment bags, trash bags and any bags used to wrap or contain certain foods, such as fruits and sliced meats.

If passed by the Senate and the Assembly, and then signed by Cuomo, the bill would go into effect Jan. 1, 2019.

“The blight of plastic bags takes a devastating toll on our streets, our water and our natural resources, and we need to take action to protect our environment,” Cuomo said.

“As the old proverb goes: ‘We did not inherit the earth, we are merely borrowing it from our children,’ and with this action we are helping to leave a stronger, cleaner and greener New York for all,” he said.

Currently, 10 cities, towns and villages in New York have enacted bans on plastic bags.

In May 2016, the town board of New Castle, in Westchester County, voted unanimously to approve a reusable bag initiative local law, that banned single-use plastic shopping bags at all stores and required stores to charge 10 cents for paper bags. Some bags, such as those for meat and produce, dry cleaning, prescription drugs, newspapers and greeting cards, would still be permitted.

After years of discussion, Suffolk County enacted a law charging customers a minimum fee of 5 cents on carryout bags — plastic or paper — that are provided at retail stores. It went into effect Jan. 1, 2018.

California became the first state to enact legislation imposing a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags at large retail stores, while also requiring a 10-cent minimum charge for recycled paper bags, reusable plastic bags and compostable bags, the National Conference of State Legislatures said. New York would be the second state to ban plastic bags, if the law comes to fruition.

Hawaii has a de facto statewide ban, because its most populous counties prohibit providing non-biodegradable bags at checkout.

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. These bags do not biodegrade and they persist for years.

While there are those who cheer the prospect of banning plastic bags, there are also those who feel Cuomo’s proposal doesn’t go far enough.

Jeremy Cherson, advocacy coordinator for Riverkeeper, said the organization was encouraged that Cuomo is taking plastic bag pollution seriously.

“However, the evidence does not support a ban on plastic with no fee on paper bags,” he said. “The fee on paper is critical to reduce waste and foster a culture of reusable bags.”

Eric Goldstein, NYC environment director of the National Resources Defense Council, called Cuomo’s proposal a “flawed solution.”

He said that a simple ban on plastic bags just leads to a greater use of paper bags, he told gothamist.com, and doesn’t necessarily get people to shift to using reusable bags.

Adrienne Esposito, executive director of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, was thrilled Cuomo introduced the bill.

“Plastic pollution has become a serious threat to our lakes, rivers and marine environment as well as public health,” she said.

“Giving up plastic bags and using reusable bags is one easy, reasonable step each member of the public can take to help combat the plastic pollution epidemic. It is time for everyone to get on the plastic bag ‘ban wagon,’ " Esposito said.

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