A Bronx pol plans to introduce legislation to temporarily eliminate the city’s new 5-cent paper-bag fee — because he believes reusable bags are a breeding grounds for germs amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Councilman Mark Gjonaj (D-Bronx) told The Post his bill would suspend the controversial 5-cent fee through the end of 2022.
Mayor Bill de Blasio last year signed into law City Council legislation that set the fee to coincide with a statewide ban of plastic shopping bags.
“I fully support the paper bag fee to encourage New Yorkers to use the more environmentally friendly option of reusable bags in normal times, but the science is clear: reusable bags are more susceptible to carrying the coronavirus,” he said.
“This bill will temporarily lift the fee so that we don’t discourage New Yorkers from using the safer paper bag option during the pandemic.”
Gjonaj cited a 2010 University of Arizona study that showed reusable bags could be a dangerous breeding ground for bacteria and are infrequently washed by owners.
He also said he was inspired by super-liberal San Francisco’s decision last week to temporarily ban reusable bags as a sanitary measure to help curb the spread of the virus.
The councilman said he opted to not push for banning reusable bags in the Big Apple because he believes the full Council is more likely to back waiving the fee for paper bags.
Councilman Brad Lander, the Brooklyn Democrat who led the fight to create the bag fee, did not return a request for comment.
A spokesperson for the mayor said his office would review the legislation once it’s introduced but declined further comment.