What's happening
This bill removes the exemption that allowed restaurants to provide plastic carryout bags, making them subject to bag waste reduction laws.
Why it matters
Restaurants will now be required to comply with plastic bag bans or fees,. which may lead to changes in how takeout and delivery food is packaged and presented to customers.
The bill could significantly reduce the number of single-use plastic bags entering the waste stream from food service establishments,. addressing a major source of plastic pollution that often evades typical retail bag restrictions.
Food service businesses may need to transition to alternative bagging options,. such as paper, compostable, or reusable bags, potentially impacting their operating costs and supply chains.
Consumers picking up or receiving food from restaurants might experience changes in how their orders are packaged,. possibly leading to greater awareness and participation in waste reduction efforts.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Restaurant Plastic Bags
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
End Restaurant Plastic Bags
In Senate Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Jen Metzger
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7363
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 26, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. FAHY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to plastic carryout bags provided by restaurants
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 27-2801 of the environmental conservation law, as added by section 2 of part H of a chapter of the laws of 2019 amending the environmental conservation law, the alcoholic beverage control law and the state finance law relating to establishing guidelines for bag waste reduction, as proposed in legislative bill numbers S. 1508-C and A. 2008-C, is amended to read as follows:
1. "Exempt bag" means a bag: (a) used solely to contain or wrap uncooked meat, fish, or poultry; (b) bags used by a customer solely to package bulk items such as fruits, vegetables, grains, or candy; (c) bags used solely to contain food sliced or prepared to order; (d) bags used solely to contain a newspaper for delivery to a subscriber; (e) bags sold in bulk to a consumer at the point of sale; (f) trash bags; (g) food storage bags; (h) garment bags; (i) bags prepackaged for sale to a customer; or (j) [plastic carryout bags provided by a restaurant, tavern or similar food service establishment, as defined in the state sanitary code, to carryout or deliver food; or (k)] bags provided by a pharmacy to carry prescription drugs.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as part H of a chapter of the laws of 2019 amending the environmental conservation law, the alcoholic beverage control law and the state finance law relating to establishing guidelines for bag waste reduction, as proposed in legislative bill numbers S. 1508-C and A. 2008-C, takes effect.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11074-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.