Albany County to Debate Proposed Ban on Plastic Shopping Bags

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Albany County has decided to join the race along with a number of governments across the state to impose ban on single-use plastic bags. The attempt is part of efforts to reduce the amount of plastics that ends up in oceans and landfills. The County Committee is due to debate the local law to this effect introduced recently in County legislature. This will be followed by public hearings.

The Albany County Legislature intends to reduce and ultimately eliminate the use and reliance on single-use plastic shopping bags. The production and distribution of plastic bags causes various environmental impacts including contamination, depletion of natural resources and increased cleanup and disposal costs.

As per new County law, no covered store will be allowed to provide single-use plastic carryout bag to any customer at the check-out stand, cash register, point of sale or other point of departure. The prohibition will also apply to ‘order online and pickup in store’ and food delivery services. Instead, the stores are required to make available to customers, only recyclable paper bags or boxes ore reusable bags. The covered stores will be allowed to charge customers at least $0.05 for each recyclable paper bag provided to them. All such monies collected shall be retained by the covered store.

The businesses that violate the law shall be given warning for first violation and could be fined from $100 to $500 for subsequent offences.

Joanne Cunnigham, sponsor of the law, thinks that banning single-use plastic bags is an obvious next priority.