BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – New York State Assemblyman Patrick Burke understands the inconvenience associated with the single-use plastic bag ban that was passed as part of the New York State budget but is urging people to look at the problem with plastic pollution on a broader level.
The assemblyman is holding a reusable bag drive at his office on Union Road in West Seneca for the next month.
The plastic bag ban also comes with a five-cent fee for paper bags that counties have the option to “opt-in”. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz is undecided on whether the county will charge a fee, with two cents going back to the county and the remainder to the state.
Burke, a former legislator for Erie County, expects a political fight over the five-cent fee on paper bags.
“I don’t think we’ve done the work on the state level to engage the community enough on it,” Burke said. “I don’t think the county has done enough work. The county executive has done a lot on the issue but I think the legislature should hold hearings on it…and make an objective decision on what’s best for the community. We’ll see if that happens.”
The plastic bag ban takes effect in March 2020.