Hearing on Plastic Bag Ban

    According to the 1967 film “The Graduate,” plastics were poised to be the next big thing. 

    They sure were.

    Now, due to the prevalence of discarded plastic bags in the local landscape, the East Hampton Village Board has proposed banning their use for goods purchased at retail. The ban would not affect bags larger than 28-by-36 inches, however.    

“Discarded disposable bags pollute our open spaces and our beaches, harm and kill wildlife and aquatic species, clog storm drains resulting in localized flooding, and end up as debris in our ocean and ponds,” according to a statement by the village.

If the village enacts the law, it would be following in the footsteps of Southampton Village, which made plastic retail bags illegal in April.

The board will hold a hearing to assess public reaction to the ban at 11 a.m. tomorrow in the Emergency Services Building at 1 Cedar Street