New York Bag Ban, Fee & EPR Rules
Verified: July 29, 2026
Bag Ban Status
Statewide bag ban: active statewide ban. Statewide plastic ban (Bag Waste Reduction Act) - all retailers required to collect NYS sales tax. $0.05 paper fee only in opt-in counties. Apparel/general retail covered.
Plastic Bag Restrictions
Plastic carryout bags: active statewide ban.
Paper Bag Requirements
$0.05 state minimum paper bag fee (Only in opt-in counties). 40% post-consumer recycled content required on paper carryout bags (NYC only (LL33); 'covered stores' includes apparel stores per NYC Admin Code Sec 16-498). Labeling required on paper bags ('reusable' / 'recyclable') (NYC only).
Recycled Content (PCR)
No statewide recycled-content mandate: the enacted Bag Waste Reduction Act (ECL §§27-2803, 27-2805) contains no paper-PCR requirement. A forty-percent post-consumer recycled-content requirement applies only within New York City (LL33, Admin Code §16-498) and other localities under the opt-in paper-fee framework — see Local Ordinances.
Fees & Taxation
$0.05 per paper carryout bag (state minimum; opt-in localities). Local fees also apply in some cities - see Local Ordinances below.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
EPR for Packaging — bill failed to pass for the session. The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S1464A / A1749A) did not pass before the Legislature adjourned in June 2026. Reintroduction is expected in the 2027 session.
Local Ordinances
New York City (5 boroughs) — $0.05 fee + NYC LL33 (40% PCR + labeling on paper for covered stores including apparel). Suffolk County — $0.05 fee; apparel stores explicitly covered in ordinance. Albany County — $0.05 fee; apparel stores explicitly covered. Tompkins County — $0.05 fee. City of Troy — $0.05 fee. City of White Plains — $0.05 fee (city opted in; Westchester County did not). City of New Rochelle — $0.05 fee. Other NY counties (Monroe, Erie, Westchester at county level, etc.) — Did NOT opt in to $0.05 fee; state plastic ban still applies.
Key Dates
Statewide plastic carryout bag ban effective 2020-03-01 (Bag Waste Reduction Act); enforcement began 2020-10-19 after litigation. $0.05 paper bag fee available to opt-in localities since 2020-03-01.