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Hamptons.com
June 1, 2018

Survey Finds The Use Of Plastic Bags Has Decreased In Suffolk County

Anastasia LennonbyAnastasia Lennon
in Community
Home Community

On January 1, 2018, a local law to reduce the use of carryout bags in retail stores took effect in Suffolk County. Passed in late 2017, the law aims to address the detrimental impact that paper and non-biodegradable plastic bags have on the environment by charging a $0.05 fee for every bag. The reliance on fossil fuels to produce plastic bags, the contamination of water and soil their breakdown causes, and the impact on wildlife (choking on and entanglement in) were a few of the factors that informed the Suffolk County Legislature’s decision to implement this law.

Data from the Environmental Protection Agency show that 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide every year. Bags that are not recycled, which make up the majority, wash up on our nation’s shores or break down into “toxic petro-polymers,” that contaminate surrounding soil and water. Additionally, the production of paper bags requires substantial amounts of water, energy, and chemicals and can emit hazardous substances into the air and water.

Before and after the law took effect, numerous organizations, volunteers, and school groups conducted surveys on bag usage by sitting outside grocery stores across Suffolk County and tallying the number of people and types of bags used. Here’s what they found:

In November and December of 2017, a total of 11,395 shoppers were surveyed. The results, provided by the Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE) are as follows: 20.23 percent had no bag(s); 2.22 percent used a combination (reusable and plastic/paper); 5.27 percent had reusable bag(s); 1.33 percent used paper; and 70.96 percent – the majority – used plastic.

In April 2018, another survey was taken at 14 grocery stores, but this time only 6,162 shoppers were surveyed. The results are as follows: 21.29 percent had no bag(s); 4.90 percent used a combination (reusable and plastic/paper); 43.09 percent had reusable bag(s); 0.54 percent used paper; and 30.19 percent used plastic.

The results from these crude surveys were first presented as an interim assessment to the Suffolk County Legislature Health Committee in April by CCE. The surveys showed that there was a significant drop in plastic bag usage by over 40 percent and a nearly equal increase in reusable bag use. In short, these results suggest that the new carryout bag law is achieving its primary aim of reducing plastic bag usage.

Suffolk County is joining many other cities and states (nationally and internationally) that have already enacted laws that charge fees for using bags or ban them altogether.

“I think that the numbers speak for themselves, but we kind of knew from other areas that the 5 cent fee does have an impact on consumer behavior,” said Jordan Christensen, the Hudson Valley Program Coordinator at CCE. “It is shocking how much the nickel really matters. People really didn’t want to pay the nickel, people really didn’t want the store getting the nickel and were willing to change behavior over a small amount of money.”

“I think it’s really encouraging, it not only just worked as a penalty but primarily worked as an educational tool where people had to stop and think, ‘This isn’t a free item, is it worth the cost not just economically but environmentally as well?'” explained Christensen.

CCE is planning another survey for this November and December – marking a year since the first survey was taken. They are also looking to expand to convenience stores and pharmacies to get a more complete picture of bag usage in the county.

“We need more data to decide where to move next, but so far we are very happy that it seems to be working,” said Christensen.

Rebecca Grella, Ph.D., was involved in the survey and its eventual presentation to the Suffolk County Legislature Health Committee in April. Grella chairs the education committee that works on implementation, education, and data collection aspects of the law. Christensen added that Grella played a key role in getting many school groups and students to participate, as she is a research scientist and teacher at Brentwood School District.

“[Grella] worked with CCE and students and was really instrumental in getting the school groups in those initial surveys on board.”

CCE was established in 1985 by a group of concerned citizens with a mission to advance stronger environmental policy through public involvement, lobbying, and education.

For more information, please visit www.citizenscampaign.org. For a reading of the law, please visit www.suffolkcountyny.gov.

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LOCAL EVENTS

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Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center Fêtes Longtime Board Member Nancy McCaffrey During “Barn Dance”

Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center Fêtes Longtime Board Member Nancy McCaffrey During "Barn Dance"

  • Discover Hamptons History with East Hampton Historical Society’s Guided Tours

We all know that September is the best month in the Hamptons. The summer renters have mostly gone (we’ll miss you!). The weather practically demands that you go out for a walk. Maybe you’ve been too busy at the beach or planning activities for the kids, but now that it’s September, take a stroll, stretch your legs, and explore the rich, beautiful history around the Hamptons.

The East Hampton Historical Society is hosting Guided Walking Tours around the Hamptons all September long, so stay a while and listen.

I love walking tours not just because of the guides, who are great storytellers, but the company and conversations sparked with other attendees. We’re the kind of people you’ll see, hands on hips, squinting to read the well-worn plaque on a historical monument. The people who read those brown signs, who pick up and read the local leaflets at a museum or hotel lobby.  @easthampton_histsoc

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#hamptons #history #guidedtour #walking #discoverhamptons
  • Real Estate with Diane Saatchi: The One That Got Away

When most people think back to the one that got away, they think about relationships.

I think about real estate.

After 35 years of selling real estate, I’ve seen more instances of homebuyers and sellers getting fixated on the one that got away than you’d think. For buyers, it could be that perfect three-bedroom waterfront cottage that was snapped up the day after they viewed it.

In cases like these, the one that got away isn’t just a quiet reminiscence — it’s a shadow that falls over the months and even years to come, making it difficult if not impossible for would-be buyers to find something that measures up to what they had, or thought they had, before.

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  • 2023 Hamptons Film Festival Reveals Spotlight Films

HamptonsFilm, the home of the Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF), announced today a handful of additional Spotlight selections, which include Jennifer Esposito’s FRESH KILLS, Andrew Haigh’s ALL OF US STRANGERS, George C. Wolfe’s RUSTIN, and Jonathan Glazer’s THE ZONE OF INTEREST. The 31st annual edition of HIFF will take place October 5-12, 2023, with in-person screenings and events across the Hamptons.

“This year’s Signature programming and Spotlight films include a diverse array of powerful and thought-provoking titles,” said HamptonsFilm Artistic Director David Nugent. “We feel it is important to feature projects that are not only compelling but also socially impactful and capable of sparking a dialogue among our audiences.” @hamptonsfilm

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  • Canoe Place Inn Welcomes Yacht Hampton to Canoe Place Marina

Yacht Hampton has docked at the Canoe Place Marina on the Shinnecock Canal. Canoe Place Inn & Cottages has been reimagined as a luxurious haven of hospitality, and now, with the arrival of Yacht Hampton, the historic Inn embarks on a prestigious new voyage.

Yacht Hampton is renowned for its expansive fleet and unrivaled service, offering a rich variety of opportunities for excursions in the waters surrounding the Hamptons. Enthusiasts can now indulge in the luxury boating/yachting lifestyle safely without the hassle and prohibitive costs that come with ownership. @canoeplace

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If you can allow yourself to believe it, September in the Hamptons is without a doubt the best month to be here. The traffic has subsided, the parking restrictions have come to an end, and the weather is the kind of weather you wish summer was: not too hot, but definitely still hot enough to go to the beach and enjoy the sunshine, and a lot less humid. September in the Hamptons is simply awesome.

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