“As the report notes, the US consumes over 100 billion single-use plastic bags every year, of which approximately half end up as litter. These bags are produced using fossil fuels, contribute to significant litter in our landfills and waterways, and are harmful to marine and wildlife. We need to develop a thoughtful, uniform state policy to tackle this problem and find ways to reduce the use of disposable plastic bags.

“I look forward to further studying the recommendations of the Plastic Bag Task Force, and working with my colleagues to find a reasonable solution that addresses both environmental concerns and the needs of businesses and consumers.

“The report also makes clear that we need to better educate all New Yorkers about the harms of usage and the importance of recycling plastic bags properly.”