Southampton Village Bans Plastic Bags
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Long Island village has passed a measure prohibiting retailers from using non-biodegradable bags.
WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs: Residents Support It
Podcast
The Southampton Village board voted 5-0 for the ban.
Merchants have six months to start using paper or reusable bags.
Violators face a $1,000 fine and up to 14 days in jail.
The nonprofit Citizens Campaign for the Environment says Southampton is the first New York state municipality to implement a ban on plastic bags. It says a similar ban exists in Westport, Conn.
The village said plastic bags pose a danger to marine and avian life and frequently are found littering public places.
(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
