New York State law requires stores with 10,000-square-feet or more of retail space that provide plastic carry out bags to customers to establish a plastic bag recycling program for customers.
“We already recycle bags, but I’m all about sustainability and doing what we can to save the Earth,” said Jaime Martino, a manager at Shop Rite in Carmel. “It’s a small step to take that could maybe make a big difference. I’m all for it.”
Last week, a bill that would limit the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags and foam containers by businesses, forcing them to provide reusable or 100 percent recyclable bags for shoppers, was introduced by Westchester County Legislator Catherine Parker.
According to Parker – who has support from legislators throughout the area – plastic bags and foam containers that are discarded improperly pose a threat to the environment and wildlife.
Parker said several biodegradable alternatives are available.
“When it comes to doing the right thing in terms of safeguarding our environment and natural resources for future generations, there should be no second guessing,” she said when announcing the bill. “In this case, the basic banning of plastic bags and polystyrene from use by retailers make good sense.”
According to the Clean Air Council, Americans use approximately one billion plastic non-biodegradable plastic shopping bags each year, about 12 percent of which get recycled.
"Almost every environmental consequence has a human health consequence, from wildfires to global warming to the use of plastics," said Patti Wood of Grassroots Environmental Education. "Every little piece of plastic that ends up in the oceans, which is a great amount, and plastics persist because they don't break down easily.”
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