New York's Plastic Bag Ban went into effect March 1st, 2020. But, you will still be able to drop-off film plastics for recycling at retailers in Broome County.
New York State's Plastic Bag Reduction, Reuse and Recycling Act (Act) has been in effect since January 1, 2009. An amendment to the Act went into effect on March 1, 2015.
The Act requires stores with 10,000 square feet or more of retail space and chains which operate five or more stores with greater than 5,000 square feet of retail space, and provide plastic carry out bags to customers to comply with the law.
What Plastic Film is Included in Store Recycling Programs?
The law requires that stores collect film plastics, which include:
Note: All materials must be clean and dry
Plastic grocery bags
Plastic retail bags with string ties removed
Plastic newspaper bags
Plastic dry-cleaning bags
Plastic produce bags with ALL food residue removed
Plastic bread bags with ALL food residue removed
Plastic cereal bags with ALL food residue removed
Plastic frozen food bags with ALL food residue removed
Plastic wrap from paper products (paper towels, toilet paper, etc)
Plastic salt bags with rigid plastic handles removed
Plastic stretch/shrink wrap with all food residue removed
Plastic zipper type bags
What are UNACCEPTABLE Film Plastics?
Plastic bags with strings
Plastic bags with food residue
Plastic soil or mulch bags
Plastic food containers
Plastic bottles
Alternatives to Plastic Grocery Bags?
Use canvas, cloth or a durable plastic bag made for multiple use. Reusable bags are more environmentally friendly than paper or plastic.
Reuse them. As trash can liners in the home, for dog waste or to use again at a retail store.
Tell a friend. Get others to recycle and use reusable bags.
