What: In advance of New York’s ban on single-use plastic bags, which goes into effect on March 1, State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Deputy Commissioner of Environmental Remediation and Materials Management Martin Brand will deliver reusable bags to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, one of the nine member food banks of Feeding New York State.

The reusable BYOBagNY (Bring Your Own Bag New York) delivery supports DEC’s ongoing campaign to encourage New Yorkers to use reusable bags wherever and whenever they shop. DEC is currently distributing hundreds of thousands of reusable bags across the state, with a focus on low- and moderate-income New Yorkers with the help of partner state agencies, Feeding New York State, the statewide food bank organization, and other stakeholders.

DEC will continue to focus its outreach and education efforts to ensure a smooth transition for consumers and affected retailers, with enforcement to follow in the months ahead. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation to ban the sale of single-use plastic bags in New York State on Earth Day, April 22, 2019.

When: Friday, Feb. 28, at 11 a.m.

Where: 388 Upper Oakwood Ave.  Elmira, New York 14903

Who: DEC Deputy Commissioner Martin Brand will join Food Bank of the Southern Tier President & CEO Natasha R. Thompson.  

WHY: New Yorkers use an estimated 23 billion plastic bags annually - each for about 12 minutes - and approximately 85 percent of this staggering total ends up in landfills, recycling machines, waterways and streets. For more information about the plastic bag ban, visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/50034.html, email plasticbags@dec.ny.gov, or call (518) 402-8706.

ABOUT THE FOOD BANK OF THE SOUTHERN TIER

The Food Bank of the Southern Tier distributes food to people struggling with hunger through a network of 157 food pantries, meal programs, shelters and other hunger relief agencies in Broome, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga and Tompkins Counties. The Food Bank also directly serves people in need through Kids’ Farmers Markets, the BackPack Program, School Food Pantries and Mobile Food Pantries. Through advocacy, education and community partnerships, the Food Bank’s vision is to create a future without hunger for everyone in the Southern Tier. The Food Bank of the Southern Tier is a member of Feeding America and a regional agency of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester, and was named the 2017 Food Bank of the Year.