S 706: Updates the definition of the term "reusable bag", as used in the environmental conservation law, to specify minimum material and durability standards.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 706 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE (Prefiled) January 8, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. MAY, HINCHEY, SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environ- mental Conservation AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to updating the definition of the term "reusable bag" The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Subdivision 5 of section 27-2701 of the environmental 2 conservation law, as added by chapter 641 of the laws of 2008, is 3 amended to read as follows: 4 5. "Reusable bag" means[: 5 (a) a bag made of cloth or other machine washable fabric that has 6 handles; or 7 (b) a durable plastic bag with handles that is specifically] a bag 8 that is designed and manufactured for multiple reuse, and that: 9 (a) is made of: 10 (i) cloth or other machine washable fabric; 11 (ii) non-film washable material; or 12 (iii) hand washable or machine washable cloth or fabric, including 13 woven or nonwoven polypropylene, polyethylene-terephthalate, polyethy- 14 lene made of at least eighty percent recycled material and that is 15 recyclable, polyester, or nylon fabric, or a fabric blend that includes 16 any such material; 17 (b) has at least one strap or handle that does not stretch and is 18 fastened to such bag in such a manner that allows such bag to meet the 19 strength and durability standards under paragraph (c) of this subdivi- 20 sion; 21 (c) has a minimum lifespan of one hundred twenty-five uses, with a use 22 equal to the ability to carry a minimum of twenty-two pounds over a 23 distance of at least one hundred seventy-five feet; and EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD02715-01-5 
 S. 706 2 1 (d) has a minimum fabric weight of eighty grams per square meter or 2 equivalent for bags made of any non-film plastic of natural, synthetic, 3 petroleum-based or non-petroleum-based origin, including woven or non- 4 woven polypropylene, polyethylene-terephthalate, cotton, jute, or 5 canvas. 6 § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall 7 have become a law.