Riverkeeper statement on NYS legislative agreement to ban plastic bags

For immediate release: March 28, 2019
Contact: Jeremy Cherson; [email protected]; 770-630-6790

ALBANY – New York lawmakers have reached a tentative deal to ban single-use plastic bags, according to multiple reports, in the must-pass state budget agreement due to pass by April 1. This signals a big victory in the fight against plastic pollution and comes on the heels of years of disagreement over the issue. However, state lawmakers kicked the question of fees on other carryout bags, including paper, to local governments.

Jeremy Cherson, Legislative Advocacy Manager for Riverkeeper said, “We are thrilled that the days of the single-use plastic bag are coming to an end in New York. This is a huge win for clean water, as every day the plastic pollution problem worsens. While we advocated hard for a statewide consistent fee on paper bags, if this agreement becomes law, we encourage local government to opt-in to the critical fee on paper to help ensure communities have policies on the books that will encourage consumers to use reusable shopping bags.”

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