Plastic Ban Debate Heating Up In Suffolk County

MELVILLE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork)-- The debate over banning single-use plastic bags across Suffolk County is heating up as the bill comes down to a vote.

Poly-Pak Industries produces plastic bags on Long Island made from recycled plastic bags and now its 300 workers wonder if they will have jobs.

Suffolk County legislators will soon vote on a law to ban distribution of single-use plastic bags, a volatile subject that has environmentalists squaring off against retailers and plastic advocates.

"Not only is it inexpensive, but it is not made from oil, which Suffolk County legislatures believes it is, it is made of a byproduct of natural gas," Peter Levy, of Poly-Pak industries, told CBS2's Jennifer McLogan.

The industry told CBS2 their side of the story is rarely heard and that plastics are targeted with false, exaggerated and uncorroborated claims.

"I am a boater, I see garbage in the waterways all the time, but it's not just plastic bags, it is all sorts of different litter, and this law is only singling out the one small percentage of a much larger problem," said Ken Trottere of Poly-Pak Industries.

But some lawmakers in Suffolk County said science is on their side. Less than one percent of the 100 billion plastic bags Americans use every year are recycled. Most end up as litter or in landfills, taking a century to decompose.

"These plastic bags have become ubiquitous in our environment. First off, they pollute-- they are all over the place, beaches, bays, hanging all over trees and shrubbery, they're in our parks and along our highways," said Adrienne Esposito of the Campaign for the Environment.

Campaign for the Environment said the bags have become a hazard for fish and birds and that it's time to ban them throughout the county.

"If we can take some of the burden of the pollution that these plastic bags pose--they block sewer treatment plants, they block storm water runoff pipes, if we can do that we are going to save taxpayers money," Suffolk County legislator William Spencer said.

The plan is to sell paper at checkout for ten cents or reusable bags for ten cents, plastic would no longer be an option.

The intense debate crosses party lines and has become so ferocious that the vote is now tabled and may take place until April 22 at the earliest, which is also Earth Day.

If passed, the legislation would be slowly implemented and eventually the health department could impose $500 fines on stores that to continue to provide plastic bags.