Westchester County Local Law Chapter 471 imposes a five-cent fee on paper carryout bags and predates New York's statewide plastic carryout bag ban under Environmental Conservation Law Section 27-2801, which took effect in 2020.
Westchester County Code Chapter 471 (the Plastic Bag Reduction, Reuse and Recycling Law) charges a five-cent fee on paper carryout bags supplied at retail checkout, with proceeds retained by the merchant. The county law predated the New York State Bag Waste Reduction Act, which now bans most single-use plastic carryout bags statewide under Environmental Conservation Law Section 27-2801. Combined, Westchester shoppers face no plastic carryout bags and a paper bag fee. Exemptions include bags for unwrapped meat, prescription medication, restaurant takeout, and SNAP/WIC purchases. Reusable bags carry no fee. Retailers must post signage explaining the fee and ban.
County fines up to several hundred dollars per violation for failure to charge the paper bag fee; state DEC enforcement against plastic bag distribution.
See how Westchester County's plastic bag rules rules stack up against other locations.
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