KINGSTON – Starting next July in Ulster County, you can bring your own bag when you head to the supermarket, or you can pay a nickel for a recyclable paper bag from the store. Plastic bags are out.
The sweeping local law applies to supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, along with retailers selling clothing, hardware, stationery and office supplies. About the only category exempt are food service establishments not attached to retail stores.
Democrat Tracey Bartels said the measure is not perfect.
“But it is the legislation that over a hundred environmental organizations
in New York State have asked both the governor, the State Senate and State
Assembly to pass and we will be the first in New York State to do so.”
Bartels said she and her young daughter participated in Riverkeeper’s ‘Clean Sweep’ earlier this year. A huge amount of waste, including plastic, was removed from the Wallkill River.
Democrat David Donaldson said the example set by Ulster County “will be contagious.”
Among objections were concerns that this could lead to litigation.
The local law was adopted on a 15 to 7 vote. it takes effect July 15, 2019.
Ulster lawmakers are also getting into the “shun the straw” act. A public hearing was held last week on a proposed local law that would require eating establishments to provide plastic straws only on request.
