Nassau Legislator Proposes Plastic Bag Use Fee

Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé put forward a bill on Monday that would make every store in the county charge customers at least five cents for disposable plastic bags, in an effort to encourage shoppers to use reusable bags.

The law is the same as one that has been in place in Suffolk County since last January. While that law has been rather unpopular with residents, it doesn't show any signs of being repealed.

Mulé's proposed law has the support of her fellow Democrats in the Legislature and of Nassau County Executive Laura Curran. Local environmental activists also came out to a press conference Monday morning to show their support for the measure.

“The truth is, change is often challenging and this will require an adjustment in thinking,” Mulé said at the press conference, according to Newsday.

Under the proposed legislation, all shoppers would be charged a fee of "not less than five cents" for plastic bags. The stores would keep the fees.

In addition, stores would have to display signage about the bag fee, and would be forbidden from charging the fee to anyone who brings in their own reusable bags, and they can't stop them from using bags purchased at other stores.

There are only two exemptions to the law: people using food stamps (SNAP and WIC) can't be charged for plastic bags. Also, the fee does not apply to restaurants that give customers a plastic bag to take their food home, unless that restaurant is located inside another store.

Because Democrats are in the minority in the Nassau Legislature, it is now up to Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello, a Republican, to decide whether to allow it to come to the floor for a hearing.

Photo: Getty Images/Drew Angerer