Queens Library to discontinue use of plastic bags June 30th, 2018

 

Dear Friends,

 

In an effort to protect the environment and better align our financial resources with your needs, Queens Library will stop offering plastic bags at all of our 65 locations on June 30, 2018.

Each year, the Library purchases and distributes 1 million bags to customers throughout our system. We estimate these bags add approximately 24 tons of plastic to the millions of tons that already pollute our waterways, threaten marine life and wildlife, litter our streets, sidewalks, trees, and beaches, and clog our wastewater treatment plants.

While we understand our decision may be an inconvenience to some, we know many of you already bring reusable bags with you when visiting our libraries, and we are confident others will get into this habit too. 

We are excited to take this important step to reduce plastic pollution and use our limited financial resources as wisely as possible. The savings will be reinvested in our programs, services, and collections, beginning with increasing our electronic book collection. I look forward to continuing to find new ways to make Queens Library even more environmentally friendly.  

Please  click here to share your ideas.

Sincerely yours,

Dennis M. Walcott
President and CEO, Queens Library