Plastic Bag Ban Update

NYS DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos updates the public on the Plastic Bag Ban which started in NYS on March 1st, 2020 and the start of the enforcement on October 19th, 2020

[STHFGDBY]

Ireland was the first in Europe to charge people for plastic bags AKA plastic bag tax. It was a huge success. They didn't ban plastic bags but their usage dropped by 90 %. You can buy large reusable plastic bags at checkouts with handles designed into them, they call them bags for life. And they are very hard wearing and durable. I'm using my bags well over two years now and they are still useable. If you ask for and use the normal taxable plastic bags you pay 22 cent tax on each bag you ask for. They are good for organic waste in your kitchen so I still use a few of them for that, but the good thing is they end up in the waste disposal plants and not in hedges and bushes and blowing around the streets which was far too common to see . They use to be a scourge on the environment but all that has changed. It has been a major success since they introduced the Tax eighteen years ago. And the government are not making huge amounts of revenue on this plastic tax because not even 1 % of people ask for them at the checkouts and they never introduced this for the revenue, it was introduced purely as a deterrent . The UK only followed Ireland's example five years ago. They have a 5p ( 7 cent) plastic bag tax which is far too little to have a real impact. Ireland's is 22 cent per bag..

[stephenclum]

How can I get my hands on those canvas totes that are hopefully made in usa

[Bayan]

Yep, will be curious how much NY has made on their 5 cents a bag "fee" for their paper bags that are at grocery stores. People think that goes to the stores, wrong, 3 cents goes to NYS, 2 cents to the municipality the store is in. I remember when I was in high school in the 90's when paper bags were being phased out because they were the environmental hazard and plastic bags were being pushed because THEY were supposed to be more environmental friendly. What happened? Or is this about making money? This reminds me of the Who song "Won't Get Fooled Again" and that one line "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss."

[DanyCervantes]

So we’re giving up on better recycling programs? Technological problems are countered with better technology.
Having a momentary ban is fine, but also trying to improve our recycling, and ocean cleanup is incredibly important. We need an XPrize for recycling plastic.

[impala]

So you’re gonna spend money to buy plastic bags, bring them to a store, use them, then throw them away rather than spent half the money on some IKEA canvas bags?

[PatrioticAmerican-dh]

Buy the bags online and use them.
Fuck this crap