NEW YORK—After state lawmakers approved a ban on most single-use plastic bags in the latest budget, some city officials are seeking to set a fee for paper bags in their localities‚ including in New York City.
By March 2020, residents across the state will no longer receive free plastic bags at the checkout at grocery stores or other retailers. The ban, which was proposed by Governor Andrew Cuomo in January, comes as part of the new $175.5 billion state 2019-20 budget announced March 31, making New York the second state behind California to have instituted regulations on plastic bags. Hawaii has essentially also done so, as all its counties have implemented plastic bag reduction laws.
