On Sunday, December 2 at 1 PM, Council Member Simcha Felder (D-Brooklyn) and Council Member Gale A. Brewer (D-Manhattan), along with Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh (D-Manhattan) and Elizabeth Broad from Earth Day New York, announced the introduction of legislation to encourage incentives for food business owners to reduce their usage of plastic bags. The bill seeks to curb the use of plastic bags in New York City with the use of tax subsidies. Companion legislation sponsored by State Senator Marty Golden (R-Brooklyn) and Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh (D-Manhattan) will be introduced shortly in the State Legislature.

This legislative package is an integral part of a conservation campaign spearheaded by Council Members Felder and Brewer, entitled “My Green New York.”  This past September, dozens of design high school and college students throughout the City were invited by Council Members Brewer and Felder to submit designs to be featured on canvas bags that will later be distributed for free throughout City grocery stores.  Each design had to contain the slogan “My Green New York” and creatively merge the concepts of “green” and “NYC living”.  On December 4, at 5:30pm-8pm, the Council will host a viewing event and reception at City Hall that will principally feature dozens of the over 200 submissions received, that best celebrate conservation, sustainability, and creativity.

“The billions of plastic bags we use each year has an enormous environmental impact on our planet,” Felder said, “Anything we can do to reduce the number of bags that end up in our landfills and in our waterways will make the planet cleaner for our children and grandchildren.”

“We can improve our health by recycling plastic bags,” said Brewer.  “In addition, using alternative ‘green’ bags with upbeat designs by our City’s talented young people guarantees that all New Yorkers will join us in promoting a healthier trip to and from the store.”

Senator Marty Golden stated, “By establishing “My Green New York”, along with the Mayor’s PLANYC, we will make significant strides in creating a very grand and friendly New York. We will reduce waste with the reduction in plastic bags with this program that will involve our school children, and we will plant more trees and create more parks throughout our City as part of PLANYC.  A cleaner New York is a better New York, and we all want that for our children, our families and for the sake of our environment.”

“With this simple switch, New Yorkers can reduce waste and decrease their contribution to climate change by minimizing the use of petroleum-based shopping bags,” said Elizabeth Broad, Deputy Director of Earth Day New York.  “The wonderful canvas bags designed by New York City students creatively illustrate their hopes for a cleaner and greener future.”