BYOB - Bring Your Own Bag

RIVERHEAD, Suffolk County (WABC) -- Suffolk County residents should start stocking up on their reusable shopping bags. Beginning January 1, plastic bags will cost five cents each under a new environmental law.

The plastic bag ban, which was approved in 2016, will apply to all convenience, grocery, liquor, office supply, clothing and home center stores. It will not apply to fast food establishments, delis or restaurants. Additionally, shoppers will not be charged for using the small plastic bags at supermarkets that are used to bag produce or meats and fish.

"Listen, bring your own bag, avoid the fee," said legislator William Spencer, who sponsored the bill. "I hate fees. We don't like fees. I don't want families, I don't want seniors to pay a fee. So bring a bag."

A group of 85 high school students and 15 teachers from seven Suffolk school districts and St. Joseph's College recently conducted a study in advance of the law. They found that out of 11,395 people surveyed, 70 percent of people said they only use plastic bags to carry their groceries and shopping items.

"We're asking everyone to make a New Year's resolution to bring your own bag to the grocery store," said Adrienne Esposito, with Citizens Campaign for the Environment. "Fight plastic pollution."

If you are unable to purchase a reusable bag, you can call legislator William Spencer at 631-854-4500 to receive a free bag.

BYOB - Bring Your Own Bag

I just bought a bunch of reusable bags at Target because of this, but I am sure I will constantly forget to bring them into the store with me - at least in the beginning. And I get it for grocery shopping and that kind of thing, but seems kind of strange for clothing stores - I can't imagine walking around Macy's carrying a reusable bag or two, just in case I find something to buy - guess I'll wind up paying for bags in that type of setting

Message edited 12/18/2017 4:18:23 PM.

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BYOB - Bring Your Own Bag

This is tough when you make an unplanned stop at the grocery store - or will they still have paper bags?

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I wonder how this will work for home deliveries like peapod. I have plenty of reusable bags that I'd be happy to use, but peapod comes in plastic bags. Will they just automatically charge me?

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What if I hoard a bunch of plastic bags now, before they start charging, and bring those?
Do they charge you to BYO plastic bag???

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I mean on one hand I think this is great - I am all for helping save the environment. but I know myself and know I will forever keep forgetting to bring my own bags!

BYOB - Bring Your Own Bag

I keep the bags in my car at all times. Once I unpack my groceries, the bags go back in the car. Otherwise, I would never remember them.

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Love this rule, wish it was everywhere.

I have reusable totes in the trunk, in a basket by my front door, one rolled up in a pouch in my bag, a few in my desk drawer for shopping during my lunch break.

I've been doing this since I was a teen. It's second nature.

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I find this offensive and annoying. Yay for saving the environment but let's be real...it has nothing to do with that. It's just another county wide gimmick to scam money from the people already paying exorbitant taxes to live here. I'm offended that they think we are stupid enough to believe it's all about saving the environment and annoyed about paying yet another fee.

Now I will have to remember to bring bags everywhere I go. Awesome. Just add something else to my plate. In addition to my pocketbook, work bag, diaper bag and various school bags, how many other bags am I supposed to maintain in the trunk of my car along with my double stroller? Bags for the grocery store, Home depot, electronics, clothes and shoes? Who is putting a new shirt in the same bag they transport meat? Completely absurd. Thank you, William Spencer. Any pending legislation out there to make my life EASIER? I look forward to hearing about that.

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Message edited 12/18/2017 6:16:36 PM.

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I find this annoying and good thing I live right by the border of Nassau county and actually prefer grocery shopping in Nassau county anyway. The grocery store I go to is better there anyway.

Does this apply to target too?

I am sure its the grocery stores that pushed this. I know bags cost them money that's why they have become really crappy in some supermarkets. And I am sure they tell employees not to double bag them either.

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I wonder how this will work at self-checkout. I only do self checkout at Target. How will they know how many bags I'm taking and how much to charge me?

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BYOB - Bring Your Own Bag

This is not about the environment because paper bags have the fee also. So stupid. I didn't think about the mall stores, etc. I find this very annoying. Ditch the plastic, and stick with paper bags, Mall stores can use paper shopping bags with handles. So now when I go to TJ's, I have to buy the paper bags. Dumb.

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Posted by NervousNell

Posted by FirstMate

I find this offensive and annoying. Yay for saving the environment but let's be real...it has nothing to do with that. It's just another county wide gimmick to scam money from the people already paying exorbitant taxes to live here. I'm offended that they think we are stupid enough to believe it's all about saving the environment and annoyed about paying yet another fee.

Now I will have to remember to bring bags everywhere I go. Awesome. Just add something else to my plate. In addition to my pocketbook, work bag, diaper bag and various school bags, how many other bags am I supposed to maintain in the trunk of my car along with my double stroller? Bags for the grocery store, Home depot, electronics, clothes and shoes? Who is putting a new shirt in the same bag they transport meat? Completely absurd. Thank you, William Spencer. Any pending legislation out there to make my life EASIER? I look forward to hearing about that.

Exactly. Just like the fuckingg red light cameras. They're really about safety righ?
They actually cause MORE accidents as people slam their brakes for fear of getting a $50 ticket with almost $50 in bullshitt fees tacked on.
Yeah ok.
Can't wait to leave this corrupt ass county and state.

BYOB - Bring Your Own Bag

I'm curious to know if people who use plastic bags to dispose of stinky diapers and/or dog poop will just pay the 5 cents per bag or buy other types of plastic bags for those purposes. I have to do the math, but I think it would cost about the same if not more to buy the little rolls of dog poop/diaper bags.

BYOB - Bring Your Own Bag

The city of Long Beach did this, this year. My only complaint is that It creates such a bottle neck at Stop and Shop now. You can no longer bag as items come down the conveyer belt because they keep bags under the register. So everything is bagged at the very end. Also some stores upgraded there bags to bigger thicker plastic and charge .10 cents.

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I reuse every plastic bag as a garbage bag, so now I have to buy plastic garbage bags... which are also not good for the environment... so doesn't that defeat the whole purpose? Stupid and just a way to get our money. And the low income people are exempt from the fee... So taking care of the environment is the sole responsibility of those of us who can afford to do so? How does that make any sense?

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I think it’s bs as well. I could see get rid of plastic go to paper. But this? It’s really a kick in the ass

It looks like I’ll be spending an extra $3-5 a month between groceries and target. I have a bunch of reusable stuff now, but if meat leaks, I’ll throw it away. Eggs break? Garbage. Milk leaking? Toss it. Those bags at a $1+ each - again... bs

From what I know, if the customer is paying with food stamps - no charge for bags.

They don’t effect the environment?