Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
City Council: Stores Should Recycle Plastic Bags
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 29, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 29, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and City Council member Peter Vallone presented a proposal withnew requirements about grocery stores' use, recycling and storage of plastic bags. Stores bigger than 5,000 square feet would need to:
- Use recyclable bags
- Have bins where customers can return bags
- Print "Please return this bag to a participating store for recycling" in 3"+ high letters on bags
- Provide reusable bags for sale (this can also mean more durable plastic)
- Record their amount of plastic bags that "recollect, transport and recycle" as well as a "submit annual reports to the Sanitation Department"
City Council spokesman Anthony Hogrebe told the Daily News, "It's not a ban. It's a bill that's tailored, we believe, to address the specific needs of New York City and what we think would work best." However, that didn't make Gristede's CEO - and potential 2009 mayoral candidate - John Catsimatidis happy. He told CityRoom, "We’re not set up to become garbage disposal areas for Christine Quinn. I’m not sure she’s ever been in business in her life. I’ve been in business for 39 years as C.E.O. of a company."
Hmm, we think some other chains should also be subject to this ban - like the bookstores, department stores and drugstores (yeah, Duane Reade, we're looking at you!). Updated: It turns out that this proposal would apply to any store over 5,000 square feet - so big bookstores would apply.
Photograph of some One Night of Fire participants by dogseat on Flickr
Tagged
blogs
christine quinn
city
City Council
city council speaker
city council speaker christine quinn
Council Speaker Christine Quinn
daily news
duane reade
fire
flickr
garbage
john catsimatidis
new york
new york city
news
News: NYC
night
One Night
peter vallone
photos
plastic bags
sanitation department
strike
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
2 pedestrians killed in Bronx crash after driver ran red light, police say
The NYPD said the investigation is continuing and no one had been arrested Saturday.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
and
Ann Givens
Published Oct 10, 2026 at 1:24 p.m. ET
Rain could put a damper on NYC’s long weekend. Here’s when it will clear.
Remnants of Hurricane Isaias could bring more than an inch of rain, gusty winds and even a thunderstorm Sunday before conditions improve Monday.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
News
Rain could put a damper on NYC’s long weekend. Here’s when it will clear.
Remnants of Hurricane Isaias could bring more than an inch of rain, gusty winds and even a thunderstorm Sunday before conditions improve Monday.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Holy civics! NYC schools' own comic books in the spotlight at Comic Con
By
Jessica Gould
What we know about the ICE shooting in NYC
By
Karen Yi
DSA to Mamdani: Fire NYPD commissioner if ICE doesn't leave NYC
By
Elizabeth Kim
,
Brigid Bergin
and
Ben Feuerherd
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .