Cuomo To Propose Ban On Plastic Bags In Upcoming Budget
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) – Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he will call for a ban on plastic bags in his upcoming executive budget.
Cuomo said the budget, which is set to be released Tuesday, will also include a proposal to make most non-alcoholic bottles eligible for a 5-cent redemption.
The governor called the bag ban a "bold action" that would "create a cleaner and greener New York for all."
"While the federal government is taking our environmental progress backwards and selling out our communities to polluters and oil companies, in New York we are moving forward with the nation's strongest environmental policies and doing everything in our power to protect our natural resources for future generations," he said Sunday.
More: With New York A Leading Polluter, Gov. Cuomo Pitches Statewide Ban On Plastic Bags
He said any initiative would include exemptions where appropriate.
Cuomo had first proposed a ban last April after he and lawmakers in 2017 blocked a proposed plastic bag fee from going into effect in New York City. At the time, Cuomo said his concern was over the monies raised by the fee going to store owners instead of environmental causes.
For the bottle bill proposal, Cuomo's expansion would add bottles for sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit and vegetable drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffee to the list of those that can be redeemed.
A final budget in negotiation with the state Legislature is supposed to be passed by April 1.
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)