Governor Cuomo Bans Plastic Bags in New York

This past April, Governor Cuomo announced a statewide ban on plastic bags. It is planned to outlaw them by 2019. Cuomo stated that this bill will prevent the devastating toll of plastic bags on our streets, our water and our natural resources. If the bill were to pass it would be the second state, after California, to ban this item. California accomplished this in 2016.

A little more than a year ago, Cuomo blocked a 5-cent surcharge that New York City had sought to place on single-use plastic bags. State Senator Simcha Felder, a Brooklyn Democrat, was one of the loyal opponents of the 5-cent city fee, saying it would unfairly burden low-income consumers, like many of those who shop at bodegas and grocery stores in his district. Felder said that he had not had time to review the Cuomo bill but that his opposition had to do with fees and taxes, not a ban per se.

Governor Cuomo’s bill is a great idea that will decrease plastic pollution. However, he did not explain what the future of bags will look like. Will we be restricted to the use of paper bags and reusable bags, or will there be a different kind of bag made in place of the plastic bag that will consist of more recyclable materials?

I have conducted a survey asking 50 individuals if they prefer plastic, paper, or reusable bags when they go grocery shopping. The result can be seen below.

Of those same individuals, I then asked what they would use if plastic bags were now unavailable. The results are below.

I found it very interesting that a majority preferred to use reusable bags over paper. I then asked them why and the answers varied. Many believed that paper bags are not stable and are more prone to ripping. Others explained that reusable bags take up too much space and that paper would be easier to get rid of.