NYC Establishes Plastic Bag Recycling Program

While China has gone for an all out ban, NYC yesterday passed a bill requiring large stores and retail chains to collect and recycle plastic bags they give to shoppers. When it takes effect, retailers must provide recycling bins for the bags in a prominent place in the store. The legislation applies to stores of 5,000 square feet or larger, as well as all branches of chains with more than five locations in the city. The NYTimes has further details of the vote.

Mayor Bloomberg looks set to sign the legislation after which retailers will have six months to establish their programs.

This program clearly is a move in the right direction to deal with the environmental effects plastic bags create. What do you plan on doing with all that extra space you’ll have underneath the sink?

photo via Steph at reusablebags.com