Gov. Andrew Cuomo was in the Hudson Valley Monday to mark Earth Day with the signing of legislation that bans the sale of single-use plastic bags in New York starting in March of 2020.

According to a press release from the Governor's office, New Yorkers use 23 billion plastic bags each year and that recent studies show that as many as 50% of those end up as litter. The ban will reportedly reduce

The legislation prohibits the distribution of single-use plastic bags at any point of sale and gives the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) jurisdiction of anything related to plastic bags. There are exemptions, garment bags, garbage bags and bags used to contain or wrap certain foods are exempt.

New York joins Hawaii and California as the only states where this type of bag is prohibited. Will the impending plastic bag ban be an inconvenience to you?

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