Assemblyman William Colton (D – Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, and Dyker Heights) announces that the overall New York State Budget passed and was signed by the governor. This budget legislation will keep billions of these non-compostable plastic bags out of our waters, trees, beaches and drains. Plastic bags are a petroleum based product and have caused damage to our environment and killed many birds, fish and wildlife as well as introducing many contaminants to our environment.

“I strongly believe that this bill is a first solid step which moves us forward against climate change. I was happy to support the Environmental Part of the budget which resisted the calls of some to charge a fee on the environmentally harmful single use plastic bags but instead banned these plastic bags in all retail stores except restaurants and except where used to wrap meat, fish, etc. This legislation also allows cities and counties to place a 5-cent fee on paper bags, if the city or county decides to do so. But if a city or county decides to impose a fee on paper bags, 3 cents of the 5 cents will go to the State Environmental Protection Fund and the remaining 2 cents must be used to purchase reusable bags which will be distributed free to consumers who may not be able to obtain them. Also where a city or county decides to charge a fee for paper bag, consumers can avoid the fee by bringing their own bags. For instance retailers such as BJ’s and Costco do not offer bags but provide free boxes for consumers,” Colton said.

“Last year New York City tried to place a fee of at least 25 cents on each plastic bag. We rejected this because government should not place a financial burden on families buying food to solve this problem. This approach solves the problem without imposing such a fee,” Colton stated.