The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act — is the major state bill aimed at reducing single-use plastics in New York, which are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.
This bill would require companies to reduce the plastic used in the packaging of their products -- or pay a fine. For more information on the Packaging Act, see here.
Beyond Plastics is leading a petition to the Assembly Speaker (Carl Heastie) and Senate Majority Leader (Andrea Stewart-Cousins) calling on them to pass this legislation. Use this one-click tool to sign your name!
WHEREAS New York is awash in single-use packaging that can only be managed by landfill or incineration; that single-use packaging uses immense resources and contributes to climate change; that single-use packaging pollutes environmental justice communities and is a matter of socioeconomic and racial justice; that packaging contains toxic chemicals that are harmful to human health and wildlife; that companies are not responsible for the environmental damage and management costs of their packaging; and whereas the NYS Climate Law Final Scoping Plan calls for the elimination of single-use packaging, WE THE UNDERSIGNED RESIDENTS OF NEW YORK call upon the state legislature to pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Act (A1749/S1464) to require that companies reduce their packaging by 30%; that the remaining packaging be reusable or recyclable; that incineration and chemical recycling are not considered recycling; that 17 toxic chemicals are eliminated from packaging; and that companies are required to pay for the management of their packaging waste.