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RYE, N.Y. -- The Rye Sustainability Committee approached local businesses to petition for a ban on plastic bags and, for book store owner Patrick Corcoran, the choice was simple.
"I don't use plastic bags," said Corcoran, owner of Arcade Booksellers. "So it wasn't really a difficult cause to support."
The Sustainability Committee has proposed a local law that would prohibit retail businesses from using certain plastic bags and the Rye City Council has set a public hearing for Nov. 2 on the advisability of adopting the law.
The purpose of the law is to promote environmental conservation by reducing the amount of single-use plastic bags that are ultimately discarded and are not bio-degradable.
"If a plastic bag is going to just sit in the ground then we need to start thinking of alternatives," said Corcoran.
Corcaran uses recyclable paper bags at his store and said he is considering making reusable tote bags available for purchase.
"If people get in the habit of bringing their own bags, I think that would be the best solution," Corcoran added. "A lot of people already do."
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