It's Been Five Years Since New York Banned Single-Use Plastic Bags. They're Still Floating Around.
Since New York's ban on the distribution of single-use plastic bags took effect five years ago, Francisco Marte, who owns five bodegas in the Bronx with his brothers, has been conflicted about how to transition away from their use.
At three of his stores, he has stopped handing out plastic bags altogether, charging customers a 25-cent fee for a reusable bag, which are more expensive for him to stock up on. But at the other two bodegas, in low-income neighborhoods, Mr. Marte hands out plastic bags to avoid passing on the cost of a more expensive reusable bag to residents. Still, he warns them that he'll soon phase out plastic altogether.
Some customers have started to bring their own bags, he said, but it's 'little by little.'
New York State's ban in 2020 was part of an effort to curb litter and minimize greenhouse emissions caused by plastic bag production. Mr. Marte, who is also president of the Bodega and Small Business Group in New York, said compliance with the ban had been mixed among the group's more than 2,000 members, which include corner stores, restaurants, barber shops and beauty salons. Many business owners don't want to charge their customers more by handing out the comparatively expensive reusable bags. Still, the number of plastic bags in circulation has 'reduced a lot,' he said.
When the ban was announced, state officials said New Yorkers used 23 billion plastic bags each year, 85 percent of which ended up in landfills, recycling machines, waterways and streets. While the state has not collected comprehensive data on how many fewer plastic bags have been used since the ban took effect, a study by the New York City Department of Sanitation found that the prevalence of plastic shopping bags in the waste stream fell 68 percent from 2017 to 2023.
The Bag Waste Reduction Act took effect on March 1, 2020 — exactly five years ago — though the coronavirus pandemic and a lawsuit from plastic bag manufacturers delayed its enforcement for months.
Retailers receive a warning before being slapped with a $250 fine if they violate the law again, and a $500 fine for every violation thereafter.
Despite the penalties, plastic bags are still a common sight on the streets of New York City. In part, that's because the rule, as it's currently written, includes several exceptions: Bags used to package bulk items, for example, as well as those provided by pharmacies to carry prescription drugs, are excluded. Restaurants are also exempt.
Below, a visual tour of all the places plastic bags still show up in the city.
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