New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced that DEC will begin enforcement of the state’s ban on single-use plastic carryout bags on October 19, 2020. The plastic bag ban, which went into effect on March 1, was not enforced per an agreement between the parties in a lawsuit brought by Poly-Pak Industries, Inc., et al, in New York State Supreme Court.
DEC Commissioner Seggos said, “The Court’s decision is a victory and a vindication of New York State’s efforts to end the scourge of single-use plastic bags and a direct rebuke to the plastic bag manufacturers who tried to stop the law and DEC’s regulations to implement it. As we have for many months, DEC is encouraging New Yorkers to make the switch to reusable bags whenever and wherever they shop and to use common-sense precautions to keep reusable bags clean. The Court has ruled and DEC will begin to enforce the ban on October 19th. It’s time to BYOBagNY.”
Pursuant to an Order of the New York State Supreme Court, Albany County, DEC agreed to provide the parties and the Court at least 30 days’ notice prior to commencing enforcement. DEC is currently conducting extensive outreach to stakeholders, including grocery stores, retailers, and others, to provide notice of the start of enforcement and answer questions.
DEC continues to encourage the use of reusable bags wherever and whenever they shop with the #BYOBagNY campaign, launched earlier this year.
New Yorkers use an estimated 23 billion plastic bags annually – each for about 12 minutes – and approximately 85 percent ends up in landfills, recycling machines, waterways and streets.
Published in the October 2020 Edition
