Encourage NYS to Enforce Ban on Single-Use Plastic Bags

Save The River, Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper®, is urging NYSDEC Commissioner Basil Seggos to immediately begin the enforcement of New York’s single-use plastic bag ban.

This very important piece of Governor Cuomo’s environmental legislation put New York State in the forefront of the initiative to clean up a significant source of plastic pollution. Single-use plastic bags clog our beautiful waterways and breakdown into microplastics. This legislation needs to be enforced now before further damage is done to the environment.

Save The River understood the COVID-19 reason for the initial delay on the enforcement of the ban. However, now that several months have passed and alternatives to single-use plastic bags are available – such as paper bags or reusable bags packed by shoppers – the delay needs to be put aside. The well-documented damage to birds, fish, and humans caused by single-use plastic bags should not be allowed to continue another day.

We are asking you to send your support for this action by clicking here and sending an email to NYSDEC Commissioner Basil Seggos.