New York State lawmakers have agreed to impose a statewide ban on most types of single-use plastic bags from retail sales, changing a way of life for millions of New Yorkers as legislators seek to curb an unsightly and omnipresent source of litter.

The plan, proposed a year ago by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, would be the second statewide ban, after California, which banned bags in 2016. Hawaii also effectively has a ban in place, since all the state’s counties bar such single-use bags.

Plastic Bags banned in NY

Plastic Bags to be banned in NY

Did you know that Long Island Creeks, Ponds, Rivers and Estuaries are “paved” with crabs, marine worms, snails, bottom fishes, mussels, clams, shrimp and turtles? Plastic bags harm marine (and land) environments in a few ways. Turtles (and other animals) may mistake plastic bags for food. Turtles like to eat jellyfish, and we think turtles eat the plastic bags because they resemble jellyfish. … Therefore, they can no longer eat properly, which can kill them.

Plastic impacts the ecosystems

Plastic Bags

Plastic can smother seabed and coral, impacting ecosystems. from www.shutterstock.com

Plastic bags can smother corals and other seabed communities. When plastic bags end up in our bays and oceans, animals (including seals, dolphins and seabirds) can get tangled up in them. An animal with a plastic bag around its neck will have trouble moving through the water, catching its prey or feeding, and escaping predators.

STGSB lauds the proposed legislation to ban plastic bags, a move long overdue. The law advocating against plastic waste through the three R’s – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle is timely and STGSB will continue awareness through community awareness on the environmental and health impacts of plastics.

They say the turtle wins the race! Cant think of a better analogy for this legislation.  It is very encouraging that our Long Island waterway cleanup programs will be able to step forward verses just stemming the tide.

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