With a plastic bag reduction law going into effect all across New York March 1, the state is rolling out an education and outreach campaign to ensure New Yorkers understand the legislation.

“Right this minute, plastic bags are hanging in trees, blowing down the streets, filling up our landfills and polluting our lakes, rivers and streams-all hurting our environment,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a press release. “We took bold action to protect our environment and ban these environmental blights and with this campaign we’re going to make sure New Yorkers are ready and have all the facts.”

The BYOBagNY campaign, spearheaded by the state Department of Environmental Conservation, includes TV and radio advertisements, social media, Google Ads and events hosted by Feeding New York State food banks across the state.

The DEC will distribute more than 270,000 reusable bags with a focus on low- and moderate-income communities. The department will provide its nine regional offices with BYOBagNY educational materials for use as outreach at public events and is working with the state Department of Taxation and Finance to coordinate cross-agency efforts related to clear communication of the law entities required to collect state sales tax.