NY to Launch Statewide Campaign as Plastic Bag Ban Nears

New York – The Cuomo administration is launching a statewide education campaign as the ban on plastic bags goes into effect next weekend.

The Bring Your Own Bag campaign will continue over the next few months and includes TV and radio advertisements, social media, Google Ads, and events hosted by Feeding New York State food banks across the state.
As part of this effort, the state is distributing 270,000 reusable bags in low-income neighborhoods.

On Monday, the state’s department of environmental conservation released final regulations to implement the Plastic Bag Waste Reduction Act after reviewing the approximately 2,500 comments received during the 60-day public comment period.
New Yorkers use an estimated 23 billion plastic bags annually. About 85 percent of them ends up in landfills, recycling machines, waterways and streets.

Starting March 1, all plastic carryout bags will be banned from distribution by any store that is required to collect New York state sales tax, though consumers may bring their own bag of any type. Stores are allowed to charge five cents for paper carry-out bags but are not allowed to give it out for free. Recipients of food stamps or WIC are exempt from this fee.

Bags that are exempt under the law include those handed out by a pharmacy to carry prescription drugs, and produce bags for bulk items such as fruits and vegetables.