Key Facts Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources

Suffolk County, NY Single-Use Items: Plastic Bag Rules (2026)

Heavy Restrictions

Verified 1 week ago|Source: NY ECL Article 27 →

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Key Facts

State law: NY ECL Art 27 Title 28
Effective: March 2020
Paper bag fee: 5 cents in Suffolk
Pre-2020 county law: Superseded

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Suffolk County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Summary

All Suffolk County retailers must comply with the New York State Bag Waste Reduction Act, codified at NY ECL Article 27 Title 28, banning single-use plastic carryout bags statewide since March 2020 with optional five-cent paper-bag fees.

Full Breakdown

New York Environmental Conservation Law Article 27 Title 28 prohibits retailers required to collect sales tax from distributing plastic carryout bags to customers, with limited exemptions for produce, prescription, and bulk-item bags. Counties may opt to charge a five-cent paper-bag fee, with revenue split between the state Environmental Protection Fund and local WIC programs; Suffolk County opted into the paper-bag fee. The state Department of Taxation and Finance and DEC share enforcement authority. Suffolk previously had its own county-level five-cent plastic-bag fee adopted in 2017, since superseded by the stronger state ban.

Violations & Fines

First retail violation is a written warning; subsequent violations carry civil penalties up to 250 dollars and 500 dollars for repeat offenses under DEC enforcement schedules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are restaurant takeout bags exempt?

Bags used to carry prepared takeout food are not exempt from the plastic ban; restaurants must use reusable, paper, or compostable carryout bags. Trash-can liners and produce bags remain allowed.

Who collects the five-cent bag fee?

Retailers collect the fee at the point of sale, remit through their sales-tax filing, and the state distributes it to the EPF and local WIC programs. Customers using EBT or WIC are exempt.

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Suffolk County, NY Single-Use Items: Plastic Bag Rules (2026)

Key Facts

Summary

Full Breakdown

Violations & Fines

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & Official References

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