Plastic bags are banned in New York State

NEW YORK STATE PLASTIC BAG BAN

Since 2020, the American state of New York has banned, with a specific law, the Bag Waste Reduction Law, The use of plastic bags. The results are very encouraging, considering that before the ban in New York State, 23 billion plastic bags were consumed and disposed of (not always properly) every year. The alternatives offered are paper and fabric, with the option of using, for example, DIY bags for shopping.

This important law was successfully passed despite strong pressure from the plastics industry lobby. It was a decision that was strongly opposed by retailers, due to the cost of purchasing paper bags. They complain that while it costs $100 to purchase 2 plastic bags, the same amount of paper bags can cost up to $15.

New law requires stores to sell paper bags to five cents one or to provide ecological alternatives such as reusable bags. One of the few exceptions provided for by the law concerns the pharmacies.

TODAY'S THE DAY!

Plastic bags are officially banned. Together, we can create a cleaner future for our city and planet. pic.twitter.com/zUy65I0C6S

- City of New York (@nycgov) March 1, 2020

PLASTIC BAG BAN IN CALIFORNIA

Meanwhile, regarding the use of plastic bags in various American states, a major development concerns California. It is the first US state to legislate a ban on single-use plastic bags, but these regulations have not worked. Recyclable plastic bags, heavier than the ones that were eliminated, have arrived and are sold at supermarket checkout counters: but the cure has been worse than the disease. More waste, more pollution, and higher costs for consumers. Now, California is considering a new law that would ban all plastic bags, including recyclable ones, but only in name. This measure could be a model, even for Italy, where the phenomenon of "fake recyclable" plastic bags, available for purchase in supermarkets, is now rampant. And it should be stopped.

ALSO READ: San Francisco Airport, California, bans plastic water bottles from being sold.

THE #BYOBAGNY CAMPAIGN

To spread awareness of the new law, explain the damage to the environment caused by the indiscriminate use of plastic bags and to help low and middle income families, the State of New York has also planned the campaign #BYOBagNY which provides for the free distribution di over 700 reusable bagsMeanwhile, New York City is preparing to become, starting next year, the first American city to permanently ban plastic bottles from municipal buildings and properties.

INITIATIVES TO ELIMINATE PLASTIC:

• A school in Mantua is raising larvae that eat plastic. And they're disposing of it.
• A unique place on Lake Garda: everything is second-hand, no plastic is used, and the bottles are chilled in the icebox.
• PCUP: the silicone cup to avoid disposable plastic and skip the checkout lines
• Plastic-free islands: the complete map in Italy. Despite the Regional Administrative Courts (TARs) trying to trip them up,
• Rome's anti-plastic barriers are a success: they're stopping waste from reaching the sea in the Tiber River.