Hudson RiverNet 
News from the Hudson River Estuary Program

Plastic Bag Ban Starts March 1: #BYOBagNY

Did you know New Yorkers use more than 23 billion plastic bags a year? That’s around 1,000 bags per person annually. When we improperly dispose them, plastic bags create pollution, and are often seen stuck in trees or floating in our waterways. They pose threats to fish and wildlife, clog machinery at recycling facilities, and litter the pristine outdoor places we love and enjoy spending time in with our friends and family.

Starting this Sunday, March 1, 2020, a new plastic bag waste reduction law will take effect in New York State, and your reusable bag should be in hand when going shopping. Whether you’re going to the grocery store, clothes shopping, or to a home improvement store, make sure to bring your reusable bags. You don’t need to wait until March 1st to take action! Start bringing your reusable bags to the store ahead of the ban to build a new habit. Remember, your reusable bag means conserving natural resources, creating less litter, and keeping New York beautiful for future generations.

Additionally, stores covered under the NYS Plastic Bag Reduction, Reuse and Recycling Act will still be required to collect plastic bags and other film plastics from consumers for recycling. Film plastics include items such as bread bags and plastic wraps that come over cases of water, paper towels and other similar items. Consumers can help by continuing to recycle these items at participating retailers.

Questions on the upcoming plastic bag ban? E-mail plasticbags@dec.ny.gov.

Applications Now Being Accepted for Buffer in a Bag

The New York State Trees for Tribs is now accepting applications for Buffer in a Bag. The Buffer in a Bag initiative is designed to increase riparian (streamside) buffers statewide by engaging landowners in small-scale plantings. Qualifying private and public landowners may apply for a free bag of 25 tree and shrub seedlings for planting near streams, rivers or lakes to help stabilize banks, protect water quality, and improve wildlife habitat.

To qualify, landowners must have property in New York State with at least 50 feet that borders a stream, river or lake, and provide photos and map coordinates of the planting location. Applicants are eligible for one bag of 25 seedlings, and DEC will choose recipients on a first-come, first-served basis. Five hundred bags will be available statewide for this round of applications. Applications are due by 3 p.m. on April 10, 2020. Visit DEC's website for more information about the Buffer in a Bag application process and requirements. General questions may be directed to treesfortribs@dec.ny.gov.

Take Survey to Improve Grant Process for Source Water Protection Through Land Acquisition

The Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program provides state funding for a variety of water quality projects, including land acquisition for protection of drinking water source areas. Grants provide money to municipalities, land trusts, and soil and water conservation districts to purchase parcels and/or conservation easements. Applicants are selected through a competitive process using established criteria to ensure that the land or easement purchase will help safeguard a community's source of drinking water.

DEC is seeking participation in a survey to understand any barriers that prevent potential applicants from using this funding source so that the state can resolve those issues for future grant rounds. The survey is available on DEC's WQIP Land Acquisition Projects for Source Water Protection Toolkit webpage.

If you would like to learn about WQIP Land Acquisition Projects for Source Water Protection, visit DEC's WQIP webpage or contact WQIPsourcewater@dec.ny.gov.