Larchmont Trustees Pass Reusable Bag Initiative

LARCHMONT, N.Y. -- The Village of Larchmont Board of Trustees voted unanimously to pass the a ban on single-use plastic bags Tuesday night. Though the vote was not scheduled as part of Tuesday's public hearing, the board went ahead because of overwhelming public support.

Proponents of the Reusable Bag Initiative show off their bags at Larchmont's public hearing on the legislation Tuesday.

by Chaya Babu

03/20/2013 5:00 p.m.

"There are many types of plastic bags that are excluded from this legislation, which is why we're calling it the 'Reusable Bag Initiative' versus a ban on plastic bags," Larchmont Mayor Anne McAndrews said. "The plastic bag you put your tomatoes in at the supermarket, dry cleaner bags, newspaper bags, they're all excluded."

The terms are similar to those of the the ordinance passed by the Village of Mamaroneck, McAndrews said.

"The goal is to cut down on the very light filmy bag that gets into our waterways, doesn't break down, and is not necessary to use," she said, referring to the specific bags given out at the point of sale at retailers. "Usually you end up throwing it out or it falls out of your car or something and ends up on sidewalk somewhere."

Individuals representing environmental groups from the Village of Mamaroneck, Westport, Conn., and the City of Rye attended the hearing. Those in attendance expressed positive feelings about proposed law, but the village received a few letters in opposition, McAndrews said.

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