New York governor Andrew Cuomo has signed into law a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags.

The ban on plastic bags in New York follows the recommendations of a Task Force created by the governor in 2017, which was tasked with developing a uniform and equitable statewide plan to address New York’s plastic bag problem.

The New York State Plastic Bag Task Force compiled a comprehensive report outlining eight potential solutions to address the plastic bag waste menace in the state.

Among the solutions the task force listed to address plastic waste is the introduction of plastic bag fees and plastic bag bans, a combination of fees and bans. The task force also urged the state to carry on with existing policies, which include the implementation of the existing New York State Plastic Bag Reduction, Reuse and Recycling Act.

It’s estimated that residents in New York use about 23 billion plastic bags annually.

New York is the third state to completely ban plastic bags after California and Hawaii.

KENYA ENFORCES PLASTIC BAGS BAN

Kenya made history by becoming one of the first countries to ban plastic bags in 2017 in a move The Guardian described as “the world’s toughest ban on plastic bags”.

It is estimated that Kenyans use 24 million plastic bags each year.

BUILDING THE GLOBAL MOMENTUM ON MARINE/AQUATIC PLASTICS LITTER

In a side event hosted by the embassy of Netherlands, Building The Global Momentum On Marine/Aquatic Plastics Litter, during the blue economy conference hosted by Kenya in partnership with Japan and Canada in 2018, Kenya was lauded for the plastic bags ban, with speakers at the event saying it will help a great deal in reducing plastic pollution in the oceans.

http://www.kenyaforum.net/2018/11/30/blue-economy-kenya-should-take-action-on-plastic-bottles-waste-management/