The City Council votes Thursday on a bill to require a 5-cent surcharge for "single-use" paper and plastic shopping bags.

One of the sponsors of the bill City Councilman Brad Lander said that 5-cent fee is meant to incentivise shoppers to use reusable bags, instead of having to purchase a new one. While critics have said this fee will adversely impact poorer communities, Lander said studies have debunked that claim. 

"What the data all shows, there's this great survey from Washington DC and another from Buenos Aries, it doesn't matter whether you're rich or poor, black or white, young or old, no one wants to pay the fee, everyone can remember to bring reusable bags, and that's what people will do."