A&PA (Washington, D.C., USA) President and CEO Donna Harman issued the following the statement after this week’s hearing in the New York Senate Cities Committee on S.7336, which would prohibit localities from imposing any fee, tax, or charge on carry-out bags. AF&PA testified in support of the bill.

 

"Government imposed product taxes not only increase costs for consumers, but can substantially distort the free flow of recoverable materials, such as paper. Taxes on paper bags imply that a product that is recyclable, compostable, and reusable is part of the environmental problem rather than the solution.

 

"The paper and paper-based packaging industry has achieved a consistently high rate of recovery voluntarily. In 2015, 66.8% of all paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling, and the recovery rate has met or exceeded 63% for the past six years.

 

"AF&PA thanks Senator Simcha Felder for his leadership and strong commitment on this bill," Harman said.