New York State Lawmakers Approve Plastic Bag Ban

New York State lawmakers passed a $175.5 billion budget that includes a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags.

New York is now the second state in the nation—behind California—to ban single-use plastic bags in stores. All counties in Hawaii ban plastic bags, but it is not a state-mandated ban.

According to a PIX 11 report, New York’s legislation banning plastic bags at supermarkets and retail businesses allows counties to opt in on a 5-cent fee on paper bags.

PIX 11 has more details:

The Democrat-controlled New York Legislature has passed legislation that will make the state the second in the nation to have a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags.

Lawmakers passed the measure Sunday afternoon, a little more than 12 hours after Cuomo and the fellow Democratic leaders announced an agreement on a $175.5 billion budget for the next fiscal year that begins Monday.

The legislation banning most plastic bags provided to customers at supermarkets and other retail businesses also allows counties to opt in on a 5-cent fee on paper bags.

Read the full article here.