NYC Tax On Plastic Bags
SUCCESS! Almost two years after writing this post New Yorkers will pay a 5 cent fee per bag. It goes into effect October 1, 2016 and will eliminate billions of waste over the coming years from landfills.
Suggestion - The Metropolitan Museum of Art has 10-15 dollar recyclables available. I have tried a lot over the years and these are by far the longest lasting, washable, and have a small footprint (can fold into any pocket).
This...
Not That...
Update 2015:
There seems to be increasing support to tax/ban plastic bags in NYC. This week, there was a protest at City Hall calling for Mayor de Blasio to pass the bill next month in time for Earth Day. I think charging consumers for their plastic bags will help change behavior. Hopefully, it will encourage people to be more sensible and bring a bag with them.
Here is what Riverkeeper has posted on their website:
"In New York City this would decrease the annual single-use plastic bag consumption from 10 billion per year to between 1 billion and 4 billion single-use plastic bags polluting our environment! Join Riverkeeper, advocates, and New York City Council members at a rally on the steps of City Hall on Monday, March 23 at 12 p.m. as we ask the city to “can the bag.” This rally increases the pressure on city council members to protect our waters, health, and environment by Earth Day."
Sadly, by people over and over again. I believe in the 80/20 rule.
Nowhere near perfect, I occasionally forget to pack a bag and succumb to a plastic bag. I try and do better the next time. These totes can be found at the grocery, drug store, or any major retailer.
Easily machine washable. Some have lasted 5 years or more. So get a few and rotate to insure good health!
Plastic bags like these are impacting our environment greatly...
Be Well,
Kim
Suggestion - The Metropolitan Museum of Art has 10-15 dollar recyclables available. I have tried a lot over the years and these are by far the longest lasting, washable, and have a small footprint (can fold into any pocket).
This...
Not That...
Update 2015:
There seems to be increasing support to tax/ban plastic bags in NYC. This week, there was a protest at City Hall calling for Mayor de Blasio to pass the bill next month in time for Earth Day. I think charging consumers for their plastic bags will help change behavior. Hopefully, it will encourage people to be more sensible and bring a bag with them.
Here is what Riverkeeper has posted on their website:
"In New York City this would decrease the annual single-use plastic bag consumption from 10 billion per year to between 1 billion and 4 billion single-use plastic bags polluting our environment! Join Riverkeeper, advocates, and New York City Council members at a rally on the steps of City Hall on Monday, March 23 at 12 p.m. as we ask the city to “can the bag.” This rally increases the pressure on city council members to protect our waters, health, and environment by Earth Day."
Why is this important?
Look at the lonely red bag above. I see a lot of these being transported around my neighborhood.Sadly, by people over and over again. I believe in the 80/20 rule.
Nowhere near perfect, I occasionally forget to pack a bag and succumb to a plastic bag. I try and do better the next time. These totes can be found at the grocery, drug store, or any major retailer.
Easily machine washable. Some have lasted 5 years or more. So get a few and rotate to insure good health!
Plastic bags like these are impacting our environment greatly...
- They are manufactured using toxic chemicals and large amounts of fossil fuels.
- They don't disappear! Unless made out of a biodegradable plastic. A bag can last for 100 years. Polluting our oceans, trees, and burdening our landfills.
- Common plastics like these are highly toxic to our environment and health. BPA has been proven to be an endocrine disruptor in young children. If these bags are incinerated those chemicals are sent out into the air we are breathing. We breath 11,000 liters of air a day!
Be Well,
Kim
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