Ossining, N.Y. — Today, more than 100 organizations from across New York State sent a letter
to Governor Cuomo urging him to support a ban on single-use plastic
bags and a fee on alternative bags. The groups highlight that this
“hybrid” legislation is the most effective policy to reduce single-use
plastic bag pollution.
The groups were heartened to see the Governor assert his commitment
to take a leadership role over this issue by introducing bag ban
legislation. However, the Governor’s legislation cannot be supported by
the groups as it is written. Given their experience with Bring Your Own
Bag policies, a plastic bag ban only will have unintended adverse
consequences and therefore, needs to be accompanied by a fee on other
disposable bags. The organizations also urge that any new law retain
effective local laws.
Considering lessons learned from residents, businesses, and
municipalities around the state and country who have enacted Bring Your
Own Bag policies, the groups wrote to urge the Governor to advance a
policy that bans single-use plastic bags and places a fee on all other
bags (both paper and reusable bags). An effective state policy should be
modeled after municipalities that have successfully addressed this
issue. A ban/fee hybrid is the most successful model of BYOBag policy in
the United States.
Click here for the full announcement.
Source: Environmental Advocates of New York
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