Thursday, April 18, the city Council of new York approved a bill according to which in the following year introduced a 5-cent fee for paper bags to all making purchases in stores in the Big Apple. This bill became part of a series of bills aimed at combating climate change and taken on the eve of Earth Day, which is celebrated in the United States and around the world on April 22.
Fee per paper bag will be charged from March 1, 2020, throughout the state then will be banned single-use plastic bags.
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Income from the approved fee will be divided every 3 cents will be donated to the Fund of environmental protection of the state, and every 2 cents – in the city budget.
From payment of fees will be exempted those buyers who are participants in the program of preferential purchase of products SNAP, WIC Program (supplementary nutrition program for women, infants and children) or any other follow-up programs, which provide for full or partial payment for the products.
The bill was developed by members of the city Council, Democrats Margaret Chin and brad Lander, still must be approved by mayor bill de Blasio, who has previously stated that he supports the introduction of fees for paper bags and ban plastic bags.
Law Chin and lander was part of a package of bills known as the Climate Mobilization Act, which aims to combat climate change across the city. In this bundle was also presented a law requiring large and medium-sized buildings to reduce its emissions by 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050.
Members of the city Council, Republican Joe Borelli and Steven Matteo were against the law on the fee for paper bags, calling it «another unnecessary tax for new Yorkers».
«We again fit in the pockets of the middle class for the purpose of implementing environmental programs, «said Borelli.
On the eve of election day, city Councilman, Democrat Debi rose said she was still undecided with his decision, because she has some doubts on this bill, but eventually on Thursday she supported him.
