Latest news with #NewYorkStateBagWasteReductionAct
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Environmental impact: 5 years since New York's plastic bag ban
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — It has been just over five years since former Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the New York State Bag Waste Reduction Act, which meant all stores collecting sales tax were no longer able to distribute plastic bags. The goal was to eliminate the use of extra plastic and help keep communities clean and safe. Now, many grocery stores, like Tops Friendly Market on Mt. Read Boulevard, have begun pushing consumers to invest in reusable bags. 'We encourage customers to use the reusable bags so that as a company, we are being more environmentally friendly,' says Dave Williams, the Mt. Read Boulevard location store manager. 'We want to do what we can to prevent any kind of plastics going into the landfill, trying to do our best to really push the use of reusable bags, as they are best for the environment.' Along with most other grocery stores, Tops does provide paper bags to customers, but even paper bags can be harmful for the environment. A spokesperson from the supermarket chain says that although paper is much more environmentally friendly than plastic, it can still present potential issues, as the production of paper bags can release air and water pollutants. As Williams explains, reusable bags are better for the environment, and your wallet. 'We want to be customer friendly,' he says. 'So we do provide paper bags at a small cost, so there is a savings long term by using reusable bags.' Even though Tops and other supermarkets were enjoying the reusable bags, many customers weren't on board right away. 'Originally, I missed them,' said Dorothy Madigan, a Town of Greece resident. 'I would use them for trash and everything else.' Another Greece resident agreed with Dorothy. 'I liked the plastic bags,' says Anne Murphy. 'I have a cat and I would find other uses for the bags outside of just holding groceries.' Eventually though, they both came around to the many positive aspects of the reusable bags. 'Now I have several different bags from different vendors and I use them everywhere I go,' says Murphy. 'It's a way to restore energy and not have to worry about things.' 'Their easier to carry, easier to pack, their just all around better,' said Madigan, referring to reusable bags. 'You keep them in your car, take them in the store, bring them home, and nothing gets trashed. They last a long time and their relatively cheap too.' Aside from the environmental aspects, Williams says that by purchasing certain reusable bags at any local Tops locations, you can be giving to those in need as well. Through a charitable program called 'Totes For Change', for every special charity-design reusable bag they sell, a portion of proceeds go to a number of organizations, including United Way, Feeding America, Golisano Children's Hospital, and many more. 'To date,' Williams explains. 'We have donated over $739,000 to so many organizations that help local families.' We also reached out to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, who told us because of the plastic bag ban, we have seen a significant reduction in the amount of waste and litter statewide. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Your Stories Q&A: When I buy a paper bag at the grocery store, where does that money go?
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) – You ask, we answer! Viewer Question: When a store charges a fee for paper bags at checkout, where does that money go? New York State? charity or environmental causes? Or back to the store? The Your Stories Team reached out to Wegmans, Tops and Price Chopper/Market 32 to get an answer. When New York banned plastic bags in March of 2020, supermarkets started charging a 5 to 8 cent fee. The purpose of the fee was to incentivize the use of reusable bags. 'We knew from experience, eliminating plastic bags without also charging for paper would result in customers relying on paper bags, which have greater environmental impacts than plastic bags,' A Wegmans spokesperson said in an email. 'The environmental objective in charging a nickel per paper bag was to create a deterrent to discourage customers from shifting their reliance on disposable thin film single-use plastic bags to disposable paper bags, which raise their own host of environmental concerns,' added Mona Golub, Vice President of Public Relations and Consumer Services for Price Chopper/Market 32. When plastic bags were first banned, local grocery stores donated a portion of the paper bag fee to environmental or charitable causes. In 2022, Wegmans posted the following on its website: The amount collected from the paper bag charge will be donated to each store's local food bank and United Way. In 2021, the more than $1.7 million Wegmans collected and donated from the bag charge was used to increase access to wholesome food and address the most critical needs of our communities. Now that the plastic bag ban has been in place for nearly 5 years, the grocery chains we spoke with said the paper bag charge is no longer being donated to causes. The money now covers the costs the store incurs for offering paper bags. Both Price Chopper and Tops said the cost to make the paper bag is more than the fee the customer is charged. 'Today's rising costs are permeating every part of our economy which includes the supply cost of paper bags. The eight-cent fee of the paper bags covers a fraction of the cost of the bag itself,' said Kathy Sautter, Director of Communications for Tops. While the charge for paper bags no longer goes to local causes, Tops said they still donate a portion of sales of its reusable bags called, Totes for Change. Sautter said Tops has donated $560,000 to charities and causes. It is important to note that in some areas of NY, there is an actual 5-cent paper bag fee that goes to the county and state. It's part of the New York State Bag Waste Reduction Act. Price Chopper/Market 32 sent the following information regarding the program: 'In counties that opted into Gov. Cuomo's '5 cent paper carry out reduction fee' (like Albany, Troy, Suffolk, New Rochelle, Tompkins, White Plains, NYC) the county takes 2 cents of the nickel and the state takes the other 3 cents of the nickel for its Environmental Protection Fund.' Submit a form. Your Stories Q&A: When I buy a paper bag at the grocery store, where does that money go? Your Stories Q&A: Cannabis shop to open in former Van Buren Pizza Hut Your Stories Q&A: When will this closed bridge near Cornell reopen to traffic? Your Stories: Wasp nest on utility pole has Fayetteville community buzzing Your Stories Q&A: Why is bird flu making egg prices spike but not the cost of chicken? Your Stories Q&A: What's with all the dirt near I-690 and Bear Street in Syracuse? Your Stories Q&A: After years of no construction, is Pizza Hut still returning to Cortland? Your Stories Q&A: When is CopperTop Tavern opening its new location in DeWitt? Your Stories: Change is coming to a 'dangerous' intersection in Clay Your Stories Q&A: Firehouse Subs closes another location in Central New York Your Stories Q&A: When will the new Joey's restaurant open in DeWitt? Your Stories Q&A: Why do I pay a county water tax when I'm not an OCWA customer? Your Stories Q&A: Can businesses refuse to take $100 bills? Your Stories Q&A: What's the latest on Manlius getting an upscale Taco Bell? Your Stories Q&A: When will construction begin on broken Hanover Square fountain? Your Stories Q&A: New plans for The Inn Between Restaurant in Camillus Your Stories Q&A: New restaurant to open in closed Daniel's Grill in Marcellus Your Stories Q&A: A new hotel proposed to be built on former Clay Golfers Dome site Your Stories Q&A: How do school districts decide when to take a snow day? Your Stories Q&A: Closed Cicero Rite Aid to become Ace Hardware Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
