The Rockland County Legislature’s Environmental Committee will hold a public hearing on a proposal to a 25-cent fee for paper or plastic carryout bags at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10 in the legislature’s chambers in the Allison-Parris County Office Building, 11 New Hempstead Road in New City.
Legislator Connie Coker, D-South Nyack, who chairs the committee, worked with Andy Stewart, the executive director of Keep Rockland Beautiful, and wrote legislation that to charge the carryout bag fee.
In a news release, Coker said today that paper and plastic bags threaten the environment, are a source of significant litter, and contribute to overburdened landfill sites. She said the legislation would discourage the use of these bags while encouraging the use of environmentally friendly reusable bags.
Coker has also expressed her support for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposal to charge city shoppers a fee for every plastic bag they receive when checking out at the supermarket.
“While I hope that New York City ultimately passes Mayor Bloomberg’s proposal and I am certainly eager to pass similar legislation in Rockland County, I believe that this issue would be more effectively addressed on a statewide level,” Coker said today.
“Until such time as a statewide law is put into place, each municipality throughout New York State should take steps to discourage the use of plastic and paper carryout bags and promote reusable shopping bags,” Coker said.
