Goodbye plastic and hello re-useable bags in New York.

Workers from the New York City Sanitation Department spent Monday morning handing out reusable bags at the C-Town on Graham Avenue in Williamsburg to prepare residents for the state’s upcoming plastic bag ban.

The statewide ban was approved last year after a task force did an analysis and found the bags were not only harmful to the environment, but that it cost the city more than $12 million a year to dispose of the bags.

"Before March 1 we wanted to make sure we were giving out free bags so the Department of Sanitation, City Council and the mayor and the city of New York are going to be working to make sure everyone that wants everybody gets one," says Brooklyn Councilmember Antonio Reynoso.

There will be three more bag giveaways coming up before the ban goes into effect on March 1.

Bronx:

Wednesday February 12, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

295 St Ann's Avenue

Friday, February 14, 2:30 p.m.- 3 p.m.

1841 Westchester Avenue

Thursday, February 20, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

877 Southern Boulevard

Thursday, February 20, 2:30 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.

1065 E 163rd Street

 

Brooklyn:

Monday, February 10, 2:30 p.m.- 3 p.m.

1932 Fulton Street

Thursday, February 13, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

1555 Linden Boulevard

Thursday, February 27, 2:30 p.m.- 4 p.m.

665 New Lots Avenue