Effective January 1, 2009, a new statewide law requires certain retail and grocery stores to set up a plastic carry out bag recycling program for their customers. 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 which provide plastic carry out bags to customers, are required to comply with the law.
What are Stores Required to Do?
-Establish an "at-store" plastic bag recycling program. Stores must make collection bins for plastic bag recycling available to customers in a visible, easily accessible location.
-Ensure that collected plastic bags are actually recycled. Stores are required to recycle the plastic bags collected and are prohibited from disposing of the collected plastics as solid waste.
-Label all plastic bags. Any bags distributed in affected stores must state 'Please Return to a Participating Store for Recycling' or a similar message approved by the DEC. The message required pursuant to New York City Local Law 1 of 2008, Please reuse or recycle at a participating store, is acceptable. (Note: If you use biodegradable compostable bags, they must be labeled Compostable bag--Do not place in recycling bin)
-Keep records. Stores are required to maintain records describing the collection, transport and recycling of plastic bags for at least three years. The records must include the weight of plastics collected and where they were recycled.
-Sell reusable bags. Stores are required to offer reusable bags to their customers for purchase and allow the use of reusable shopping bags. (Note: A reusable bag is made of cloth or other machine washable fabric that has handles or is a durable plastic bag with handles made for multiple use).
http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/50034.html
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15 years ago
I think it is good that they are making sure the bags are recycled, not put into the solid waste stream. I always wonder what really becomes of our recyclables once we put them into the recycling container. I know some places "recycle" for putting forward a good face but then only send it away to a landfill.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Kelly.
Yes, this is a concern with recycling anything, for sure. How do we know what actually happens to our recyclables? Locally, I think we could ask OCRRA for a tour of the recycling facility. But in general it seems like there should be a watchdog group for this kind of thing.
ReplyDeleteActually, I believe companies can get fined in Onondaga County if they do not truly recycle their recyclables. And OCRRA has a phone number for homeowners to report garage hauling trucks that they suspect are just dumping the bluebins into the regular trash.
ReplyDeleteWhile I am all about recycling and reusable bags, I find the legislation a bit odd. Most of the big stores in around us have bag recycling containers and EVERY grocery store I've been to out here sells reusable bags. And, I'm guessing they do it without legislation or the mandate to keep records.
ReplyDeleteI would think that NY would be equally (if not more) progressive in this area...so why the laws?