Statewide plastic bag ban takes effect March 1
Come March 1, New York State will say sayonara to plastic bags for good. In New York State, where more than 23 billion plastic bags are typically used each year, they cause harm to wildlife and hinder recycling efforts, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). In an effort to protect the environment and reduce waste, the statewide ban aims to eliminate the single-use plastic bags that often end up stuck in trees and floating in waterways.
In a couple of weeks, New Yorkers will be required to bring reusable bags for purchases at all retailers, not just grocery stores. And while some stores will now offer paper bags as an alternative, the state is urging residents to #BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) when they shop. Besides, multi-use fabric bags are much more durable than single-use paper, and further help curtail waste, according to DEC officials.
The clever shopping cart system, The Lotus Trolley Bag, is not only eco-friendly, it’s making the switch more convenient. The foldable and machine washable Lotus Trolley Bag is a set of four reusable bags that spread out across the shopping cart, and has helped eliminate more than 200 million plastic bags since its launch in 2017.
“Our Lotus Trolley Bag was created as a way to get shopping done faster and more easily, but we wanted it to stand out with additional features not found in other reusable bags,” Jennifer Dehmoubed, who cofounded the company with her husband, Farzan, said. “I want to be a champion for a great cause and influence real change for generations to come.”
Its design reduces plastic waste while helping shoppers organize their carts as they stock up. The colorful cloth bags neatly hang in the shopping cart and hold up to 50 pounds each. One of the bags is insulated to hold refrigerated and frozen items. Attached by Velcro, they can be easily pulled apart for loading it into the pantry.
“We included pockets for eggs and wine bottles, an insulated bag for hot and cold items, double stitching for durability, removable rods for versatility, mesh bottoms to prevent spills from pooling and the subsequent mold build up seen with other reusables,” Dehmoubed said. “With all these functions, it was also important to ensure our bags were washable.”
Complimenting the Lotus Trolley Bag, the couple unveiled Lotus Produce Bags in late 2018, which tackled single-use plastic in the produce section. The average produce bag is used for just 12 minutes, Frazan said.
“The small produce bags are often ignored by media and legislation but what many don’t realize is how detrimental these small bags are to our environment and oceans,” he said. “Pairing Lotus Produce Bags with our trolley bags gives our customers all the reusable bags they need as they start, or continue, to purge plastic from their lives.”
Lotus reusable bags are now available at more than 150 retailers across the state, and at www.lotustrolleybag.com.
