New York’s Plastic Bag Task Force issues report to combat waste

The chair of New York’s Plastic Bag Task Force, State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos has issued the task force’s comprehensive report outlining eight potential solutions to address the “scourge of plastic bag waste” in the state. The report has been sent to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York state Legislature for consideration. 

Seggos says, “As states across the nation and world struggle with the environmental and financial costs of plastic bag waste, New York is developing a comprehensive solution. Under Gov. Cuomo’s direction, the New York State Plastic Bag Task Force has identified equitable, statewide solutions to address plastic bag waste and this report provides a menu of options to tackle this issue. I’m grateful to the co-chairs and task force members for their efforts and hard work to develop this report.”

Convened in March 2017, the Task Force was directed to study the growing issue of plastic bag waste and develop a comprehensive statewide plan to address the impact plastic bags have on the environment. The report is the result of an effort by Plastic Bag Task Force members, including elected officials, advocates and other key stakeholders. The report was informed by a roundtable discussion and comments DEC received from interested parties and an exhaustive review of actions taken elsewhere to address plastic bag waste.

Plastic Bag Task Force members are: 

• Seggos;
• Sen. Thomas O’Mara, New York State Senate;
• Assemblyman Steve Englebright, New York State Assembly;
• Stephen Acquario, executive director, New York State Association of Counties;
• Marcia Bystryn, president, New York League of Conservation Voters; and
• Michael Rosen, president and CEO, Food Industry Alliance of NY Inc.

The Plastic Bag Task Force’s report, which is available online, provides an overview of the problems caused by single-use plastic bags and reviews single-use plastic bag reduction measures undertaken in New York, the U.S. and internationally. These measures have included plastic bag fees, plastic bag bans, a combination of fees and bans, manufacturer responsibility programs and education and outreach initiatives to consumers at the municipal and statewide level.

The report outlines these options to address plastic bag waste:

• strengthen and enforce existing New York State Plastic Bag Reduction, Reuse and Recycling Act—Continue implementation of the existing New York State Plastic Bag Reduction, Reuse and Recycling Act while increasing education, enforcement and reporting requirements;
• manufacturer responsibility for recycling of single-use plastic bags—Require manufacturers to fund and implement a program for the collection and recycling of single-use plastic bags;
• fee on single-use plastic bags;
• fee per transaction for single-use bags—Under this option, rather than a fee per bag, a single fee would be imposed for the use of single-use bags (i.e., a fee would be assessed whether a consumer received one bag or 10 bags);
• fee on single-use plastic and paper bags;
• ban single-use plastic bags—Implement a ban on the sale and use of single-use plastic bags;
• hybrid—Implement a ban on plastic bags with a fee on the allowable alternatives; or
• continue existing policies—continue implementation of the existing New York State Plastic Bag Reduction, Reuse and Recycling Act.

In addition, the report notes the need for any approach taken to include an education and outreach campaign to make consumers aware of the problems with plastic bags for the environment and waste stream, encourage the use of reusable bags and how to properly recycle plastic bags, according to the Plastic Bag Task Force. As part of the education and outreach campaign, the report recommends providing funds to support the distribution of reusable bags with a focus on low and fixed income individuals. If the policy approach taken includes fees, the report suggests that any funding received by the state be dedicated to the Environmental Protection Fund.

Across New York, residents annually use 23 billion plastic bags. A significant number of these bags make their way into the environment, causing litter and damaging wildlife, which can be seen within waterways, along streets and in oceans and lakes, says the Plastic Bag Task Force.

“Moreover, these bags do not biodegrade, they persist for years,” says the Plastic Bag Task Force.