Plastic Bag Bill Introduced in NYC Council, Awaits Hearing in Sanitation Committee

Last month, NYC Council Members introduced legislation aimed at reducing plastic bag consumption in NYC. The next step is to have the bill heard by the NYC Council Sanitation Committee, but no hearing has been scheduled yet.  You can support this legislation by contacting NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn and urging her to have the bill heard (as Speaker, she decides when bills are heard).  You can also contact your own NYC Council Member to express your support for the bill - find your Council Member here.

Lastly, you can register at the bagitnyc.org and "like" the Bag It NYC page on Facebook to keep up with that is happening with the bill and bag-related events in NYC.

Here are some specifics on the legislation

NYC Council Bill No. 1135 :  A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to reducing the use of carryout bags.

Introduced Aug 22, 2013

Bill Status:  pending review by Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management (no hearing has been scheduled yet)

Bill details

• Mandates a 10-cent minimum charge for all carryout bags at New York City retailers.

• Retailers retain the entire amount of the charge.

• In other cities, a ten-cent minimum charge has shown to be a sufficient incentive to encourage customers to bring their own bags or avoid taking a bag for small purchases.

List bill sponsors (as of 9/21/13)

Brad S. Lander

Margaret S. Chin

James G. Van Bramer

Daniel Dromm

Inez E. Dickens

Gale A. Brewer

Robert Jackson

Stephen T. Levin

Annabel Palma

Peter A. Koo

Melissa Mark-Viverito

Rosie Mendez

Elizabeth S. Crowley

Here is an article about the legislation.