A look at the impact of New York’s plastic bag ban

BUFFALO, NY — In March 2020, a plastic bag ban went into effect in New York state, but what impact has it had since?

“I have collected (reusable bags) for many, many years,” said environmentalist Christine Lo.

These reusable bags have become an indispensable part of every grocery shopper’s life.

“When they started selling them, I bought a handful and I still have that handful of bags actually,” Lo said. “I’ve had a few break, but I haven’t had to buy new ones in a while.”

After the ban on plastic bags in 2020, these reusable bags have become the norm in stores, in homes and cars.

“This one was passed down from my grandmother, Blizzard from 1977,” she pointed out. “The isolated ones came from a subscription beef and poultry company that I purchased meat from.”

Earlier this year, a Freedonia Group study found that in New Jersey, which has a similar ban, bag volume decreased but plastic consumption tripled. Indeed, more plastic has been used to make woven and non-woven polypropylene bags. He said these bags were used several times and then thrown away.

The report was funded by the American Recyclable Plastic Bag Alliance, which advocates against plastic bag bans.

“We encourage all New Yorkers to bring their own bag … whenever and wherever they shop,” said Kayla Montanye, environmental programs specialist for the Department of Conservation. environment of New York State. “The best reusable bag is the one you already have.”

New York’s DEC says it doesn’t have numbers on how many reusable bags are purchased or thrown away, but it says the ban is working.

“A waste characterization study was recently conducted in New York (and) it showed that there was a more than 50% decrease in the amount of plastic bags in their waste stream since the ban was implemented. in force,” Montanye added. .

Although no similar study has been done statewide, the results are positive.

“Obviously the environmental impacts have been reduced,” Montanye said.

Lo is not so convinced.

“Certainly, if people buy them and use them throughout their lives, I think that’s a good thing,” she said. “The question is always, do people do that? I don’t know.”

With free bags, often “gifts” given out at events, she often says no and she definitely doesn’t buy new ones.

“It’s frustrating for me because I can’t get rid of it,” she explains. “I don’t want to put them in the trash.”

Even efforts to find alternative disposal methods have not worked.

“Thank you for contacting Wegmans customer service. Our Wegmans reusable shopping bags require more resources to make and are not recyclable. Thanks for contacting us,” Lo read from her phone. This was in response to his question about recycling polypropylene bags.

She will continue to use the bags she has for as long as possible, and if she needs a replacement, she will try to be smart about it.

“I’ll buy cotton or any type of natural fabric that at least I know will one day decompose when thrown in the trash,” Lo said. “But I don’t know… these bags might survive me.”

If you have too many reusable bags, the DEC recommends donating them. If they’re not in usable condition, you can send them to places like ChicoBag.