WPCNR County Clarion-Ledger. From Westchester County Board of Legislators. April 8, 2008: The County Board today unanimously approved a local law that establishes an at-store recycling program for plastic bags. The law applies to retail establishments of 10,000 square feet or more that provide plastic carryout bags to customers. The measure will take effect six months after enactment.

In advocating for legislative approval,  Environment and Energy Committee Chair Thomas Abinanti (D, I, WF-Greenburgh), cited irrefutable evidence that plastic bags wreak havoc on the environment and “attach themselves to everything from tree limbs to store canopies to sewer drains.”  Abinanti noted that 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide, the United States distributes 100 billion plastic bags alone and that such bags can take 1,000 thousand years to decompose.

Legislation Committee Chairman Bill Burton (D, I-Ossining) said the new measure was a good thing for the retail and plastics industries to work together and is a “win-win situation” for the environment.

Chairman Bill Ryan (D, I, WF-White Plains) commented that the measure was consistent with other  proactive initiatives the Environment & Energy Committee has introduced that “improve the environment for the one million people in Westchester County.”

As part of the law, which adds Chapter 828 to the Laws of Westchester County, residents will also be given the opportunity to recycle plastics bags on Household Recycling Days throughout the year.