SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — After years of discussion, a controversial new law is set to take effect in Suffolk County on Jan. 1, charging customers a minimum fee of 5 cents on carryout bags, plastic and paper, that are provided at retail stores.

"The purpose of this law is to encourage consumers to use their own reusable bags for shopping and to reduce the environmental impacts associated with single use bags," a release from Suffolk County said. Environmentalists, who have long lauded the measure and spoken out about the detrimental impacts of plastic bags to local waterways and wildlife, have been gearing up for the implementation of the new legislation, aimed at reducing plastic bag use.

According to the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, a survey of consumer shopping habits was conducted by high school students and teachers in advance of Suffolk's Bring Your Own, or BYOB, law implementation on Jan. 1. Of the 11,395 surveyed, the study showed that 71 percent of individuals are using throw-away bags, 5% of individuals are using reusable bags, more people bring their reusable bags on the weekend, 6.4%, as compared to the weekdays, when that number is 4.65 percent, and more woman use reusable bags, with 68% of those bringing their own bags, female, and 32 percent, men.

Students and teachers joined the Food Industry Alliance, Local 338, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, and Suffolk County representatives recently announce the results of their surveys, which demonstrate ongoing and still widespread use of single-use plastic bags in grocery stores, pharmacies, and convenience stores throughout Suffolk County, CCE said. In addition to the surveys, the Food Industry Alliance, Local 338, and Suffolk County will be launching an educational campaign and unveiling outreach materials for retailers and the public, which explain the Suffolk County BYOBag law and encourage residents to make the switch to reusable bags to avoid a nickel fee.

The county's bill was approved in September 2016 and imposed a 5 cent fee on plastic and paper bags, with an eye toward helping to mitigate impacts of plastics on the environment and to encourage reusable bags.

At the time, Legis. William Spencer (D-Centerport), said he hoped the bill would lead to a 75 percent reduction of single-use bags within three years after seeing the success of municipalities that already have a plastic bag fee.

"This is one fee that is completely avoidable," Spencer said in a statement. "We don't need the plastic bags and you don't need to pay the fee. . . My hope is that we will join together and use reusable bags and give our precious Island a break." One of the legislators who voted against the bill, Legis. Robert Trotta (R-Fort Salonga), told Patch he believes Spencer had good intentions with the bill, but he didn't believe that charging people was the answer.

