ALBANY – New York is set to become the second state in the country to ban plastic shopping bags.

Wondering when the bag ban takes effect? Are there any exceptions? And will you have to pay a fee on paper bags you get at the grocery store?

Here's how it will all work, according to the new state law:

What kind of bags will be banned?

New York's ban will apply to all single-use plastic bags provided by stores to carry out goods.

It applies to any store that is required to collect sales tax, including groceries, retailers and small businesses.

It does not apply to reusable bags with handles that are made of cloth or another durable material.

When does the ban take effect?

March 1, 2020.

Are there any exceptions?

Yes.

Under the state's ban, there are 11 instances where it's OK for a store to hand out a plastic bag, including when a bag holds:

uncooked meat, fish or poultry;

bulk items;

sliced or prepared foods;

a newspaper for delivery; or

prescription drugs.

There are also exemptions for bags sold in bulk, trash bags, food-storage bags, garment bags, prepackaged bags offered for sale and bags for carryout orders at restaurants and taverns.

What's the point of the ban?

Environmental organizations have long pushed a ban on plastic bags as a way to cut down on plastic pollution and encourage people to bring reusable bags when then shop.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo first backed a plastic-bag ban last year.

What about bags for cleaning up after your dog?

Sorry, dog owners — the plastic bag ban applies to you, too, if you use plastic shopping bags to pick up after your pooch.

If you don't have a stockpile of plastic bags handy, you'll have to rely on deli meat bags or carryout bags from restaurants or any of the other bags that are carved out from the ban.

Or, you'll have to buy plastic bags that are prepackaged or sold in bulk. Many retailers sell bags, some of them biodegradable, specifically designed for dog waste; those aren't affected by the ban.

What about paper bags?

They aren't banned, but counties and cities in New York will have the option to charge a fee on each paper bag.

How much is the fee?

5 cents per bag.

Why would counties and cities charge the fee?

Two reasons.

One, some counties and cities could choose to charge the fee to try and cut down on paper waste and encourage reusable bags.

Two, those local governments that do charge the fee will get to keep 2 cents for each bag to put toward a program to distribute reusable bags.

The remaining 3 cents goes to the state's Environmental Protection Fund.

Does everyone have to pay the paper-bag fee?

Almost everyone — so long as you're shopping in a county or city that opted in.

The only people exempt from paying the paper-bag fee are those who receive SNAP or WIC benefits, since lawmakers were concerned the fee would unduly harm those with low income.

What does the food industry think?

They're pretty mad about the whole thing.

The state Food Industry Alliance, which represents grocers big and small, says the plastic-bag ban will increase their costs, which means consumers will pay more.

The cost of shipping paper bags, for example, is more than shipping plastic bags because paper takes up much more room, according to Mike Durant, the group's president and CEO.

Also among those who opposed the ban: Wegmans, the Rochester-based grocery chain.

What about environmentalists?

They aren't super happy either.

Environmental groups were pushing for a ban on plastic bags with a statewide fee on paper. Without the fee, paper bags would still litter roadways and waterways, they claim.

So they weren't pleased to learn counties and cities would have to opt in to charging the paper-bag fee.

"The state should have learned from other areas that also only banned plastic bags without a paper bag fee — they just don’t work," the New York Public Interest Research Group wrote in a statement.

JCAMPBELL1@gannett.com

Note: Story has been clarified to say the county's share of the optional paper bag fee would go toward a reusable bag program.

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