Jan. 11, 2008 - The New York City Council has passed a bill requiring large retail stores to provide recycling bins for the plastic shopping bags they use. The new legislation, considered one of the toughest local recycling laws in the U.S., applies to stores that occupy 5,000 or more square feet or have more than five outlets in New York City.

The law requires store operators to provide an easily accessible collection bin for plastic bags in visible locations. In addition, stores are now required to use plastic bags that display the words Please return this bag to a participating store for recycling or a similar message, as well as make reusable bags available for purchase. Finally, the stores must submit annual reports to the Department of Sanitation on the amount and weight of collected plastic bags.

"New Yorkers want to be environmentally responsible, and we need to give them a chance to reduce the number of plastic bags they use, and recycle the ones they already have," says council speaker Christine C. Quinn. "This legislation will create convenient opportunities for bags to be recycled, in a way thats friendly to both local businesses and to the environment."

Worldwide production of plastic bags, which are manufactured from petroleum products, burns through more than 12 million barrels of oil annually. Earlier this week, both China and Australia banned the use of plastic shopping bags at supermarkets.