Connecticut Senator Pushes For Eradication Of Plastic Grocery Bags

HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork) – On Earth Day, Connecticut officials are pushing for an effort to ban plastic bags in the state.

As WCBS 880's Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau reported, you might want to grab a reusable bag on your next trip to the grocery store as state Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr. is leading an effort to do away with plastic grocery bags.

Kennedy, who co-chairs the environment committee, says his legislation would charge customers 10 cents for every bag used to tote their groceries or other goods out of the store.

Listen to Connecticut Senator Pushes For Eradication Of Plastic Grocery Bags

"That 10 cents would go to the retailers, to the store owners, to the grocers, so that they could purchase reusable bags to give to their customers," he said.

Kennedy said although it's hard to believe, each year in Connecticut alone, a billion plastic bags are used and generally tossed out in the trash.

New York City Councilman Brad Lander, D-Brooklyn, proposed a similar bill earlier this year.