By COLlive reporter
New Yorkers are preparing for the New York State bag waste reduction law, which will take effect on March 1.
Starting March 1, New York’s grocery stores and other shops will no longer be providing plastic bags to customers.
Over 23 billion plastic bags are typically used each year in New York State, according to the DEC.
“Plastic bag usage affects both our communities and environment. Plastic bags can be seen stuck in trees, as litter in our neighborhoods, and floating in our waterways,” Governor Cuomo said.
The DEC recommends that consumers bring along reusable bags when they shop, although paper bags will be available in some stores.
The Bag Waste Reduction Law and Who it Affects
Starting March 1, 2020, all plastic carryout bags (other than an exempt bag) are banned from distribution by anyone required to collect New York State sales tax.
Cities and counties are authorized to adopt a five-cent paper carry-out bag reduction fee. This means that in these areas, a consumer will be charged 5 cents for each paper carryout bag provided at checkout.
Some stores may choose to only offer reusable plastic bags for a fee.
In areas that have adopted the five-cent paper carryout bag reduction fee, the fee does not apply to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children — a nutrition program) recipients, and they are exempt from paying a paper carryout bag reduction fee for paper carryout bags. One way to avoid paper bag fees no matter where you are across New York State is to always bring your own bag.
What’s next, forcing us to turn off lights 4 hours a day to save the environment?
America, land of the free…not so much anymore.
Switching off lights and banning plastic bags is FOR YOUR OWN GOOD!
Everything that’s done for the environment is for you! unless you want the planet to look like a trash bag! As for shutting your lights- no one’s FORCING you!
And what part of America is not free exactly???!!!
Well where I live I don’t see plastic bags in the trees or in the waterways. This has to do with how people are raised. Period
That’s right, I don’t know what’s for my own good. I’m not to be trusted. The government, on the other hand, they know better what’s good for me. Whatever is best for them – that’s what’s good for me. Please control me. I have no free will. Please may it be your will that I serve you, the government,because it’s for my own good. Dear Government, you are so benevolent – only out for my interests. So selfless. Oh infallible government, I wait for your righteous ways to solve the ills brought on by degenerate, sub-human life like me. Sorry… Read more »
They care nothing about the environment or about what’s good for you.
They care only about forcing everyone to struggle more and more in daily life, so that they have less power, and have to turn to them and big government for phony “solutions”, so that those in power, have more control.
Telling business how they may or may not do business, is unconstitutional.
I suppose you will still think America is “free” when they ban Kosher Shechita like they do in Europe.
OK Boomer
Surprised somebody knows what that is on COLlive.
Why don’t they start with saving the earth by having our streets cleaned before taking away our bags!
As long as cars obey Alternate side Parking and if you see one that isn’t, call your Community Board.
And they fine store owners for not cleaning trash dropped pay passersby or blown in by the wind, from down the street.
earth is only made to go for 6,000 years
said on
Almost Adar 5780
do the math
But we should try to be oil independent so arabs have less power. per rebbe
How EXACTLY are we supposed to bring home ALL our stuff, put it in our hands… ??? 🤔🤔🤔
I am writing from a country where there are no plastic bags used,and yes at first I had the same reaction ”how do I get home from the store without bags!”. Here is some advice-Use a cloth bag every time you go to the store it will become a habit, have a specific place in your house were you keep the bags. Like this we it will be easy for you and make a Kiddush Hashem to those who see the mature way we act in.
Here we walk most places and if your on your way home going to pick up a few things the bag in your house doesn’t help!
just have a backpack or side bag with you if your going out and know will need to shelp /buy things
This is a first world country and taking away our FREE shopping bags in the way arrogant Cuomo and the two leaders of the legislature did is anti-democratic. I will now be voting for Trump and against anyone who voted for taxing my shopping bags as I will be reminded of how counter-productive this is as it harms our environment since trees will now be used to produced these paper bag alternatives with a nickel tax on each. Albany is lead by arogant obnoxious self-righteous morons who should be term limited to six years instead of being guaranteed their safe… Read more »
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF
P-A-P-E-R – B-A-G-S!⁉⁉⁉⁉⁉
Just in case you didn’t know but creating paper bags or the cloth bags creates double or triple the amount of carbon dioxide as plastic bags so the geniuses in Albany aren’t really caring about the environment as they claim to be
https://www.reusethisbag.com/articles/the-truth-about-paper-bags/
It must be a secret conspiracy so we buy everything online then they get a kickback from the seller
Bring your own bags or paper bags
Use paper bags (like at trader Joe’s), use a box (like Marketplace/Empire) or buy a few reusable bags, they literally cost a dollar …No one is suggesting you carry all your groceries home in your hands, that’s the perfect example of reducto ad absurdum.
With accumulated liquids and food particles stuck in them.
They also make it hard for someone without a car to walk around everywhere carrying them.
Same problem for paper bags, plus they dissolve and tear in the rain.
Get a reusable bag genius.
What about all the plastic containers, genius? This is a sales tax
Ive been doing this for a while; says our oceans of the build up of these plastic bags that just dont decompose
I put garbage in the plastic bag for disposal. Now, I have to buy plastic bag to dispose my garbage. I don’t know if there is any savings at all.
Not saving the earth this way, are we? No ban on the gadzillions of plastic containers used from take outs, deli’s etc. All the boomers remember paper and foil containers?
If NYS needs uses a billion bags, there are not enough paper or recycled bags to meet that need.
THIS IS A SALES TAX – the price of these bags should be absorbed by the vendors and they should be given a tax break by CUOMO
If the store absorbs the costs, they will just raise prices.
Tax breaks from government mean increased taxes for everyone else.
I agree!! They were my garbage bags since when they were introduced in the late 1980’s. Now, I have to buy bags???
out of town this *might* make sense. People can keeps bags in their cars. But we live in a city! I’m not carrying around ten bags wherever I go in case I decide to go shopping !
I do! I keep a bunch of reusable sturdy bags in my car, & some in the house for quick trips to the Mekolet. It’s irritating but you get used to it. And you can always use an agalah… shopping trolley. Good luck!
Not all of us have cars.
Are we supposed to go out and buy cars now, just to have a place to keep all the bags we now have to carry around wherever we go?
California and some other states in us already have this in place. So does other countries like Australia. You will get use to bringing your own bags or pay for the boxes.
Some stores dont even offer bags such as aldi, costco……its easier than you think.
Yep, “you’ll get used to it,” said the Mitzrim as they gave the Hebrews more work and less pay…
Slippery slope… What’s the next “small” constraint on our freedom that when put together with all the other freedoms taken add up?
It’s like the YH – “Oh it’s no big deal, this little aveira. Then it’s another leading to another. Sure enough, eventually you’ve gone far from Hashem and Yiddishkite c’v
People who shop at Costco have cars and are given free boxes to organize their purchases. If one walks to a store, plastic bags are the answer as one can carry 4, 5, or 6 while walking. California is a messed up state and a poor example. Most city residents shop on foot and need bags to be given to them while their cashier packs. Otherwise, we will become crazy trying to figure out how many bags we need before shopping or have to make multiple trips to the stores, all because Andy Cuomo is afraid of Bernie Sander and… Read more »
Couple of years ago they wanted to save trees and stop using paper, now is the other way around don’t use plastic and use paper.
We are supposed to bring our own bags but we are we going to get those from
I bought reusable/washable canvas totes from a moisod that promotes goodness and kindness on the bags.
Please share the info for purchasing. They sound fantastic.
Governor Cuomo never went shopping in a grocery store a day in his life so he has no clue what this inconvenience means
Let him cancel the new bail reform laws so that criminals are
not roaming the streets!!!
vote Cuomo out of office when he tries for another term. Without plastic, how do we throw out our garbage for those who live in apartments? Out the window?Cuomo is always saying the same sound bites when condemning plastic bags but he appears to really be as stupid as he sounds as there is no plastic bag problem in the waterways of NYS. Even dolphins and whales have returned to the Hudson River. Yes, plastic pollution is a problem in the Pacific Ocean and the Pacific is 3,000 away. Cuomo and his mentor Bloomberg should be talking to China and… Read more »
Way to get your priorities straight,NY!! Don’t worry your pretty little heads about more pressing matters like the rising anti-Semitism 🙁 just focus on dumb things like controlling your citizens!; you must be so proud of yourselves,bullies. Bravo
from your perspective the city may do nothing until anti-semitism is cured?
If they aren’t doing anything productive, then it would be better if they did nothing.
Passing unconstitutional anti business anti freedom laws, only helps those in power, no one else.
Jersey City, NJ has started the plastic bag ban last year. Yes, it was very inconvenient in the beginning. The stores sold reusable bags and it was inconvenient to *remember* to bring the bag whenever you go grocery shop. After a couple of months, the people adapted to it and the initiative became more natural. Then, the shops started *selling* thicker plastic bag for a dime. It’d help reduce the number of plastic bag usage but each thicker bag is about 4-5 times thicker than the regular plastic bag. So….. at the end of the day, not sure how much… Read more »
“We shall adapt”.
Feel free to come and visit the Office of Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo to pick up a one or two reusable DSNY bags. We are located at 55 Hanson place 7th floor. Closer to home you can also stop in at your Community Board 9 office located at 890 Nostrand Avenue.
So here in uk they starting charging 10 p a plastic bag hoping this would be a deterrent , nope , my shopping just cost me a few pounds more !
https://nypost.com/2020/02/18/new-yorks-plastic-bag-ban-will-have-a-lenient-start/
They aren’t starting enforcement “until further notice”.
As soon as the store switch and have paper bags or other alternatives, the government will start enforcement. It’s only a matter of time.
B”H. Now you can observe the plastic bag ban while promoting the 7 Laws of Noah and Acts of Goodness and Kindness, with these handy large or small canvas tote bags from Asknoah.org:
https://asknoah.org/asknoah_resource/tote-bags
Means following the law of the land.
In America, the highest law is the US Constitution which is being violated by this plastic ban law, that prevents people from perusing happiness, and gives government undue control over private lives.
calm down! yes its hard, and for the fist few weeks it will be annoying, but you will get used to it! I am a Shlucha in Conecticut, and we already have this law! it becomes a habit!
before everyone gets used to it. So much drama…….Waaa
You can if you have to, get used to anything, so who needs rights and freedom, right?
First you have you get “used it” and they never stop = socialist! think back 70 years….just get used to it thats what they all say until they start to pile on the laws.
It’s time for NY/NYC to go republican
Far too many Republicans, are still liberals.