New York Senator Harckham and Assemblymember Glick’s Packaging Reduction Bill Advances in Both Houses

Further, municipalities bear the burden of collecting, sorting, and processing waste, driving up costs for taxpayers.

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): New York State Senator Pete Harckham announced that the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA) has successfully advanced through the Senate’s Environmental Conservation Committee, which he chairs. Solid waste, which has been rising steadily over the years, presents a serious challenge for New York’s environment and the health of New Yorkers, as well as a burden on taxpayers. New York State’s 25 municipal solid waste landfills could be full within the next 15 years, according to the NYS Solid Waste Management Plan. Incineration of waste creates air quality issues and increases greenhouse gas emissions.  Further, municipalities bear the burden of collecting, sorting, and processing waste, driving up costs for taxpayers.

PRRIA (S.1464/A.1749) aims to significantly reduce packaging waste by requiring companies to reduce overall packaging use, improve recyclability, fund recycling infrastructure, support municipal recycling programs, and eliminate toxins in packaging materials. The legislation has broad approval from New Yorkers according to public polling.  Producers with annual net revenues over $5 million and those responsible for more than two tons of annual packaging waste would be required to reduce their packaging by 10% within three years and 30% within 12 years. PRRIA sets post-consumer recycled content standards for packaging: within two years, glass packaging must contain 35% recycled material, paper bags 40%, and plastic bags 20%.

The bill’s advancement comes one week after Assemblymember Deborah Glick, Assembly sponsor of the legislation and Chair of the Assembly’s Environmental Conservation Committee, advanced it out of her committee. Harckham and Glick have been working on PRRIA for the previous two years. The bill successfully passed the Senate on the final day of session in 2024.  “This is a crucial step toward addressing the growing environmental challenges posed by waste and plastic pollution,” said Harckham. “This legislation represents the strongest Extended Producer Responsibility framework in the nation. It will reduce waste, plastics, and toxins, contributing significantly to a cleaner, more sustainable environment. While there’s still much work ahead to pass the bill through both houses, today’s progress is a critical step forward for our communities and our environment. I look forward to continuing our efforts with my colleagues and the many advocates who have championed this cause.”

“Last session, we ran out of time to pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act in both houses,” said Glick. “This early forward momentum of the bill is good news for the municipalities and New Yorkers who have been overburdened with the rising cost of the disposal of toxic packaging from producers. This bill has clear solutions to address the looming solid waste and plastic pollution crisis that will help achieve our climate goals while making our environment safer for all of us. PRRIA cannot be delayed any longer, municipalities deserve relief, and New Yorkers deserve a safe and clean environment.”

Judith Enck, President of Beyond Plastics said,“Nobody voted for more plastic, yet taxpayers are forced to spend hundreds of millions every year just to deal with all of the waste — and the cancer, heart disease, and respiratory and reproductive issues associated with it. We thank Senate Environmental Committee Chair Pete Harckham and Assembly Environmental Committee Chair Deborah Glick for moving their visionary bill through committee, and for bringing New York state one step closer to addressing our growing plastic pollution problem. Now we need this bill to come to the floor in both houses for a vote. Plastic polluters should be on the hook for the mess they’re making,”

Adreinne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment said, “The Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act represents a pivotal step in addressing our state’s growing solid waste crisis. For the first time, corporations will be held accountable for the waste they generate. Municipalities and taxpayers have borne the financial burden of dealing with packaging waste and non-recyclable materials for far too long. Once enacted, the PRRIA will significantly reduce packaging waste, promote more sustainable designs, and make recycling easier and less harmful. This landmark legislation will boost recycling rates, while saving local governments and taxpayers millions of dollars annually. Simply put, we could not afford to wait any longer. CCE applauds Senator Harckham and Assemblymember Glick for their exceptional leadership, and we look forward to continuing to work with them to ensure this bill’s successful passage.”

Courtesy: www.wasteadvantagemag.com

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