SOURCE:
https://wcbs880.radio.com/articles/suffolk-county-sees-80-percent-drop-plastic-bag-use
MARCH 21, 2019 - 5:28 PM
CATEGORIES:
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The results of the plastic bag law in Suffolk County have been announced.
For some it was a rocky start in January 2018, when the plastic bag law took effect requiring all shoppers to bring their own reusable bag, use no bag at all or be charged a five cent fee for each plastic bag they used.
Though, after a year, most shoppers have adjusted to the change and many are seen leaving stores with their own bags and Adrienne Esposito, of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, says it’s paying off.
“Suffolk County is now using 1.1 billion less plastic bags each year,” she said.
According to WCBS 880’s Sophia Hall, stores are also reporting plastic bag use is down 80 percent.
“This legislation has changed the public’s behavior in three ways. Number one, more members of the public are bringing their own bags; number two, is more members of the public are foregoing any bag at all; and number three, the members of the public that are still using plastic bags are using much less,” Esposito explains.
She adds that there are multiple proposals for a New York statewide ban on plastic bags.