This Sunday, March 1, 2020, New York State’s law banning single-use plastic carryout bags takes effect. In New York City, businesses will also be required to collect a 5-cent fee on paper carryout bags from customers.
Businesses Covered by the Law include, but are not limited to:
- Clothing stores
- Convenience stores
- Drug stores
- Green carts
- Grocery store
- Hardware stores
- Liquor stores
- Office supply stores
- Pharmacies
- Food service establishments located within the above stores.
Bags are exempt from both the plastic bag ban and the paper carryout bag fee if they are:
- Used only to contain or wrap uncooked meat, fish or poultry
- Used by a consumer only to package bulk items such as fruits, vegetables, grains or candy
- Used only to contain food sliced or prepared to order
- Used only to contain a newspaper for delivery to a subscriber
- Trash bags
- Food storage bags
- Garment bags
- Prepackaged for sale to a customer
- Provided by a restaurant, tavern or similar food service establishment to carry out or deliver food
- Provided by a pharmacy to carry prescription drugs