Mayor Bloomberg Signs Plastic Bag Recycling Law

New York, N.Y. (AHN) - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has signed a law requiring large stores to have a plastic bag recycling program and use recycled plastic bags.

The "New York City Plastic Carryout Bag Recycling Law" applies to about 2,000 stores in New York City that use plastic bags, have a floor area of 5,000 or more square feet, or have five or more outlets.

The signing of the law on Wednesday adds New York City to a growing number of cities requiring plastic bag recycling. Chicago, Philadelphia, and Phoenix enforce similar laws in their jurisdictions.

California has mandated plastic bag recycling statewide and other states such as Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey and Rhode Island are considering similar legislation.

An estimated one billion plastic bags are handed to New York City consumers every year.