In April, Andrew Cuomo, New York governor officially banned single-use plastic bags statewide. An estimate of 23 billion plastic bags are consumed by New Yorkers annually.
The final report states “Throughout New York State, plastic bags have become a ubiquitous sight on the landscape. They can be seen stuck in trees, as litter in our neighborhoods, floating in our waterways and as a general aesthetic eyesore of our environment. Single-use plastic bags are a detriment to the health of communities and the environment alike.”
With this ban in action, New York would be considered the third state to eliminate the use of plastic bags after Hawaii and California. Cities and counties will be able to charge a 5 cent fee per single paper bag use that will go towards The Environmental Protection Fund and reusable bags distribution.
