FAQ Topic: Sustainability

Consider not using plastic bags in your small wastebaskets. Using a large plastic bag for your garbage can hold significantly more garbage than plastic shopping bags. Also, some manufacturers offer garbage bags that claim a minimum 60% recycled content. You can also significantly reduce your overall trash and thus your need for plastic garbage bags … Continued

Any covered store violating this law would receive a warning for the first violation, may be subject to a fine in the amount of $150 for the second violation, $200 for the third violation, and $250 for the fourth and subsequent violations occurring within a one-year period.

The local law shall take effect on June 1, 2019 to allow retail establishments time to exhaust their existing inventory of single use carryout bags and convert to alternative packaging materials.

Any establishment engaged in the retail sale of consumer, personal, or household items, including but not limited to supermarkets, food service establishments, pharmacies, convenience stores, apparel stores, home or hardware stores, stationery and office supply stores, and other establishments that provide carryout bags to customers in which to place purchased items.

On the contrary, national research has shown the long-term effects on stores are very positive. Reducing the number of single-use bags used by shoppers can also reduce costs for business owners.

The objective of the law is to promote the use of reusable bags by reducing our dependence on single use bags. Based on the experience of other communities, it is believed that this legislation will significantly reduce the number of single-use plastic and paper bags used in Rye Brook. However, when shoppers forget their bags … Continued

No. Many communities, just like Rye Brook, have understood the need to solve their litter and pollution problems by passing similar laws. Hastings-on-Hudson, New Castle, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, and Rye City are all municipalities within Westchester that have passed laws. There are hundreds of towns, cities and other countries that have similar laws.

The purpose of this law is to improve the environment in the Village of Rye Brook by encouraging the use of reusable checkout bags and banning single-use retail bags. Non-biodegradable plastic bags often end up polluting our open spaces and waterways, clogging sewers, endangering marine life and causing unsightly litter. These bags last hundreds of … Continued