plastic bags

New York state will begin enforcing its ban on single-use carry-out plastic bags next month after a brief hiatus of the law due to a legal challenge brought earlier this year.

“The science just does not back up shifting to plastic bags. But everyone is trying to make the best of a really difficult situation.”

Manufacturers, lawmakers and grocery store workers say the reusable bags could transmit the virus, but according to scientists there aren't enough studies to know whether that's true.

The Department of Environmental Conservation has stepped up its efforts in recent days to help New Yorkers understand the new rules.

The grocery chain is getting an early start on the state-wide ban, which begins in March.

Goodwill of the Finger Lakes will remove the single-use bags from all of its Rochester and Syracuse area stores on Saturday, February 1. That’s a month ahead of the state-imposed ban which takes effect March 1.

State regulators have released new rules to enforce the changes, but groups on both sides of the issue say those rules are flawed.

The fee will not apply to people using SNAP or WIC

Starting today, plastic bags aren’t an option when you check out at Wegman's stores in Ithaca and Corning

The supermarket chain wants to get ahead of the curve because of the transition that will be needed to get customers accustomed to using the reusable shopping bags.