Public Hearing on Village Plastic Bag Ban Slated for Friday

The public will have an opportunity to be heard on whether it supports in East Hampton Village on Friday morning.

The village board will hold a public hearing in the meeting room in the at 11 a.m.

In June, Mayor Paul F. Rickenbach Jr. introduced legalisation that would outlaw plastic checkout bags at grocery stores and restaurants. He called it a major step towards becoming a more environmentally friendly village.

The board was supportive of the proposal, which follows on the heals of was adopted in New York State in April.

Despite the backing of environmental advocates, the Southampton Village board had been divided on the issue after the objections of the plastics and supermarket industries.

The Southampton Town Board is also considering a ban.

Just on Wednesday, the of imposing a ban on plastic bags in that village. Mayor Conrad Teller said, “If we passed it, it would really be a whistle in the dark."

The ban applies to retail stores, sidewalk sales, farmers markets, flea markets and restaurants. Yard sales, tag sales and sales by nonprofit organizations are exempt and checkout bags larger than 28 by 36 inches and produce bags would not be subject to the ban, if passed.

As proposed in East Hampton, the law also calls for certain type of recyclable paper bags - none of old growth fiber -- to be used if paper bags are offered.

A six-month phase-in is on the table if the law is adopted. Afterwards violators will be fined up to $1,000.

Rickenbach encouraged those with both views of the proposal to attend.

A copy of the law is attached for the reader.