Politics & Government

Convert from Usage of Plastic Bags to Paper Bags

Initiative is for Town of Brookhaven Yard Waste Pickup.

The Town of Brookhaven announced a program to transition from the use of plastic bags to paper bags for the town yard waste pickup.

“I’m excited about this initiative that will be a win-win for the environment and the economy," said Councilwoman Connie Kepert. "Moving away from plastic bags to paper bags is a proven simple strategy. It’s already been accomplished in the towns of Riverhead, North Hempstead, and Southold who have already transitioned effortlessly to paper bag-only programs, all have proven to be highly successful and saved tax payers thousands of dollars annually."

According to the town, the cost of a paper bag is approximately 20 cents per bag greater than a plastic bag and the Town of Brookhaven Department of Waste Management estimates that the net impact of implementing the program to the average homeowner would be approximately $4.50 a year.

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If the paper bag program is fully implemented prior to the expiration of the Town’s current contract with LI Compost in 2014, the Town could, if it opted to, divert up to 3,000 tons of yard waste to another site, potentially realizing an annual savings of $198,000 to $330,000. The savings accrued annually through the implementation of this program could potentially negate the impact of any additional consumer costs related to the purchase of paper bags by way of a decrease in the Brookhaven Refuse and Recycling District Fee.  

The town said every year 12 million barrels of oil are used to make over 100 billion single-use plastic bags to be used in the United States, costing America $4 billion annually. Plastic bags are non-biodegradable and decompose slowly, releasing toxins into the soil and contaminating groundwater and waterways. Plastic bags make up 90% of the floating litter in the world’s oceans and are the cause of death of marine animals and birds that consume pieces of the bags they’ve mistaken for food. Paper bags, on the other hand, are 100% biodegradable and environmentally friendly.

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