Local Westchester Municipalities Rally in Support of County-Wide Plastic Bag Ban
(White Plains EcoNeighbors, 2014)
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(White Plains EcoNeighbors, 2014)
In 2014, Westchester County Legislator, Catherine Parker (District 7), introduced a bill to limit the use of plastic bags across the county. The bill, co-sponsored by legislators Catherine Borgia (D-Ossining), Maryjane Shimsky (D-Hastings) and Pete Harckham (D-North Salem), targets the thin single-use plastic bags distributed at the point of sale, meaning the bags used briefly to transport purchases.
Single-use plastic bags cause much environmental damage, in part because they do not biodegrade. As a result, the bags clog storm drains and make their way into local waterways, where they are a threat to wildlife, and the entire marine eco-system. The average lifespan of a single-use plastic bag, from the point of distribution to disposal is just 15 minutes, resulting in a huge quantity of waste and litter.
To show local support for the county legislation, 15 municipalities in Westchester have passed resolutions advocating for the county bill, which also includes limits to polystyrene food containers. Municipalities with resolutions in support of the county-wide ban include Village of Mamaroneck, Town of Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, Bedford, Cortlandt Village, Croton-on-Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, Lewisboro, Larchmont, Pleasantville, Ossining Village, Rye Brook and Scarsdale. Countywide efforts continue, as communities advocate for further municipal resolutions supporting the county legislation.
To continue the momentum, more Westchester County municipalities need to pass resolutions indicating their support for the legislation. Local groups working on the ban will hold an information and training session in early February for those interested in getting involved. To volunteer for the cause, or to get more information about the upcoming training event, contact Catherine Parker’s legislative aide, Millie Magraw, at [email protected].
Plastic bags collect on a tree across a stream. (White Plains EcoNeighbors, 2014)