On a 28-20 vote, the New York City Council
has passed a controversial bag bill that will impose a 5-cent fee on
paper and plastic single-use bags throughout the city. The law will go into
effect Oct. 1.
has passed a controversial bag bill that will impose a 5-cent fee on
paper and plastic single-use bags throughout the city. The law will go into
effect Oct. 1.
Waste
Dive
reports:
Dive
reports:
The fee will apply to retail, grocery, and
convenience stores as well as some street vendors. The merchants will pocket
the money, unlike similar bills in which cities use the money for education or
cleanup programs.
convenience stores as well as some street vendors. The merchants will pocket
the money, unlike similar bills in which cities use the money for education or
cleanup programs.
The bill will exempt NYC residents that are
shopping with the assistance of government benefits. It will also exempt
restaurants, so consumers will not need to worry about paying extra for
delivery.
shopping with the assistance of government benefits. It will also exempt
restaurants, so consumers will not need to worry about paying extra for
delivery.
Dive Insight:
This decision wasn’t made easily, though. According to Councilman David
Greenfield, the vote was one of the “most divisive issues”
that the Council has dealt with this legislative season, as both sides of the
debate had strong reasoning for why the bill should or should not have
passed. The city intended to have a decision on the matter two weeks ago,
but it was pushed back due
to three co-sponsors being out of town.
Greenfield, the vote was one of the “most divisive issues”
that the Council has dealt with this legislative season, as both sides of the
debate had strong reasoning for why the bill should or should not have
passed. The city intended to have a decision on the matter two weeks ago,
but it was pushed back due
to three co-sponsors being out of town.
Since that time, NYC Council Speaker
Melissa Mark-Viverito backed the bill, which was likely the final push it
needed to get passed today.
Melissa Mark-Viverito backed the bill, which was likely the final push it
needed to get passed today.
Opponents, however, are not pleased, as
many of them believe the bill will have a negative effect on low-income
consumers, and that the bill wouldn’t change behavior. To address these
concerns, the fee was halved from the original 10-cent proposal to 5, but that
still was not enough to keep opponents from fighting it to the last minute.
many of them believe the bill will have a negative effect on low-income
consumers, and that the bill wouldn’t change behavior. To address these
concerns, the fee was halved from the original 10-cent proposal to 5, but that
still was not enough to keep opponents from fighting it to the last minute.
