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Retailers In Westchester Split On Possible Plastic Bag Ban

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. – With Westchester legislators considering restricting of the use of plastic bags and Styrofoam by local retailers, county business owners are divided about what a prospective ban may do to their bottom lines.

Soon plastic bags may not be allowed throughout Westchester County.

Soon plastic bags may not be allowed throughout Westchester County.

Photo Credit: Zak Failla

Last week, Rye Legislator Catherine Parker, chairwoman of the board’s Environment and Energy Committee, introduced a bill that would limit the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags and foam containers by businesses, forcing them to provide reusable or 100 percent recyclable bags for shoppers.

According to Parker – who has support from legislators in Ossining, Greenburgh, North Salem, Yonkers and other areas – improperly discarded plastic bags and foam containers pose a threat to the environment and wildlife.

Parker said several biodegradable alternatives are available.

“When it comes to doing the right thing in terms of safeguarding our environment and natural resources for future generations, there should be no second guessing,” she said when announcing the bill. “In this case, the basic banning of plastic bags and polystyrene from use by retailers makes good sense.”

Under the proposed law, the paper bags must contain no “old-growth fiber,” contain post consumer recycled content and say “reusable” and “recyclable” on the outside. First time violators will be levied a $250 fine that will jump to $500 thereafter.

According to the Clean Air Council, Americans use approximately one billion plastic non-biodegradable plastic shopping bags each year, about 12 percent of which get recycled.

"Almost every environmental consequence has a human health consequence, from wildfires to global warming to the use of plastics," said Patti Wood of Grassroots Environmental Education. "Every little piece of plastic ends up in the oceans, which is a great amount, and plastics persist because they don't break down easily.”

Kumar Sandu, who owns a pair of beverage depots in southern Westchester, said he hoped they would take care in educating business owners if the bill became law.

“For my purposes, it would be an inconvenience, but I understand the idea of trying to be more environmentally conscious,” he said in New Rochelle. “I think it’s important that they make sure small business owners know exactly what is expected of them and they don’t just come handing out tickets.”

Limiting the use of plastic bags at retail locations is a topic several Westchester municipalities have considered. Legislation limiting use of such bags is under consideration in Larchmont, Rye and Mamaroneck, while a similar law was defeated in Tuckahoe. Earlier this year, California became the first state to prohibit the use of plastic bags.

Parker’s legislation will not include restrictions on plastic produce bags, garment bags or refuse bags measuring larger than 28 inches by 36 inches.

“Personally, I think it’s great, and I support it wholeheartedly. I think we do our best to recycle them, but most of the time it probably isn’t enough,” Joe Greene, a manager at Stop and Shop said in Greenburgh. “It doesn’t take much to pick up a reusable bag and load it up. This would be good for every member of our community.”

 

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