STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Enforcement of statewide ban on single-use plastic bags has been delayed amid the coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic, according to the American Recyclable Plastic Bag Alliance (ARPBA).

Initially, enforcement of the ban was extended to April 1 due to a lawsuit brought on by New York business owners citing lack of time to prepare. The lawsuit seeks a formal injunction to block the ban to be heard, according to the ARPBA.

Enforcement of the ban will be delayed by seven weeks related to the court requesting the parties to extend the schedule for the submission of papers in this case, the state said.

A state Department of Environmental Conservation said, “New York’s ban on single-use plastic bags went into effect as planned on March 1. Retailers across the state are complying. We have consistently said since the beginning of our outreach campaign that we will focus on education rather than enforcement.”

“The American Recyclable Plastic Bag Alliance applauds this decision at a time when it is increasingly evident that plastic products – including single-use bags and bottles – are indispensable and play a key role in preventing the transmission of germs, bacteria, and viruses,” ARPBA said in a statement.

A DEC spokesperson said, “DEC continues to encourage New Yorkers to transition to reusable bags whenever and wherever they shop and to use commonsense precautions to keep their reusable bags clean.”

ARPBA Executive Director Matt Seaholm said it’s “welcome news” to retailers and customers alike.

“While this additional delay is going to provide some temporary relief for retailers and their customers, a fix is still needed if the state wants a law that is workable,” Seaholm said.

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BAG BAN BEGAN ON MARCH 1

Retailers across Staten Island and New York state that collect state sales tax are no longer permitted to bag consumer’s merchandise in plastic bags under the new law, although the state announced Friday that it would delay enforcement until April 1 to give stores extra time to adjust.

Customers have the options of bringing a reusable bag of any material -- include plastic bags that customers may already have at home -- to bag their goods, or pay a 5-cent fee per paper bag. Of the 5 cents charged, 2 cents will go to local governments and 3 cents will go to the state’s Environmental Protection Fund.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo called the state’s decision to ban bags a “bold action.”

The campaign, as well as the ban, is being spearheaded by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

The ban has come under intense scrutiny from retailers, consumers, and bag manufacturers across the state stating the law was passed without enough time for customers to be informed and prepare for the change.

New York state didn’t begin it’s #BYOBagNY campaign to alert customers of the change until nine days before the ban went into effect.

Additionally, experts said they tried to warn the state, which they said passed the ban in the middle of the night, about a shortage of paper bags.