For Immediate Release
Release # 2007-104
New York City Council
City Hall, New York, NY 10007
(212) 788-7116

October 18th, 2007

COUNCIL INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE RECYCLING OF PLASTIC BAGS

City Hall, October 29, 2007 – Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Council Member Peter Vallone, Jr. and other Council Members today announced new legislation to require the recycling of plastic bags at stores throughout New York City. The bill would apply to any store in New York City that occupies 5,000 or more square feet and provides plastic carryout bags to consumers.

Plastic bags do not biodegrade, and instead contaminate soil and waterways and enter the food supply of animals and marine life, causing illness, injury and death. Americans use an estimated 84 billion plastic bags annually, and the production of plastic bags worldwide uses over 12 million barrels of oil per year, which causes other negative environmental impacts.

“If we want to get serious about improving our environment, we need to look at major sources of non bio-degradable waste,” said Speaker Christine Quinn. “This legislation will remove a significant number of bags from our waste stream, before they end up polluting our soil and water. It will also reduce the number of new bags produced from scratch, cutting down on the unnecessary use of oil that pollutes our air and creates greenhouse gases.”

“This bill mandates a simple, easily instituted plan that strikes a balance between convenience and conscience,” said Council Member Peter F. Vallone Jr. “With everyone's help, we can help reduce a major form of waste and make our city a more environmentally friendly place.” The legislation would require store operators to:
1. Establish an in-store recycling program in which they provide a collection bin for plastic carryout bags in a visible location near the entrance;
2. Stock only plastic bags that have the words “PLEASE RETURN THIS BAG TO A PARTICIPATING STORE FOR RECYCLING” printed on them in letters at least three inches in height;
3. Make available for purchase reusable bags that can be used instead of plastic or paper bags;
4. Submit annual reports to the Department of Sanitation on the amount of plastic bags that are collected, transported and recycled, the costs of these efforts, and any other information required by the Commissioner.

Consumers could return bags to any affected store, regardless of their store of origin. All noncontaminated bags collected would be required to be recycled, either by sending the bags back to a manufacturer or by working with local contractors. Recycled bags can be used to produce new bags, as well as a variety of plastic wood and plastic furniture.

In addition, any manufacturer whose plastic bags are distributed to any of these stores must make arrangements with the operator, upon request, for the collection, transport and recycling of these bags. These manufacturers must also develop educational materials to encourage the reduction, reuse and recycling of plastic bags and provide those materials to stores regulated by this law. “The flood of used plastic bags is clogging our streets and natural areas with litter, while causing a serious depletion of natural resources,” said Sanitation Committee Chair Michael McMahon. “Our push towards recycling will help secure a cleaner and greener New York.”

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said, “Plastic bags litter our streets, clog our landfills, and create unneeded cost for New Yorkers. And show me a New Yorker who doesn't have a bundle of plastic bags under his or her sink? This bill is a practical, easy way to help New Yorkers recycle their plastic bags. It'll keep our streets clean, protect our environment, and save New York taxpayers money.”

“Plastic bags create an environmental dilemma that we cannot ignore,” said Marcia Bystryn, Executive Director of the New York League of Conservation Voters. “We salute Speaker Christine Quinn, Council Member Vallone and the City Council for taking a practical approach that will help reduce plastics in the city’s waste stream, while not unfairly burdening retailers or consumers.”

“This is legislation that makes environmental and economic sense for New York,” said NRDC Urban Program co-director Eric A. Goldstein. “Plastic bags, which are made from nonrenewable petroleum resources, are used for a matter of hours before they are discarded. But they create environmental burdens that last for hundreds of years.”

Plastic bag legislation in other states and municipalities has generally been more limited in scope. For example, the recent ban on plastic bags in San Francisco only affects approximately 50 businesses throughout the city; the Council’s legislation is estimated to affect over 700 food stores alone, as well as many other retailers in New York City.

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