In a bid to curb the number of plastic bags stuck in trees and littering streets, the City Council has voted 44-2 to mandate that supermarkets begin recycling programs.
“You shouldn’t walk around and have the city’s flower be a plastic bag that’s eternally blossoming in a tree. We want to end that time in our city,” said Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan).
Supermarkets that belong to chains of more than five stores or that have more than 5,000 square feet will now have to:
* Place recycling bins in stores.
* Use plastic bags that are clearly marked as recyclable.
* Accept shoppers’ bags from other stores, as well as shrink wrap and dry-cleaning bags.
Some 2,000 stores will be affected, and violators are subject to fines of $300 daily.