More than 15 different environmental, civic and faith-based groups, plus several state legislators joined New York State Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Deborah Glick at the State Capitol today to call for support of the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA).
The bill (S.1464 / A.1749), which recently advanced in both the Senate and Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee, 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.
Groups participating in today’s press conference included the American Lung Association, Beyond Plastics, Capitol District Zero Waste, Consumer Reports, Environmental Advocates NY, League of Women Voters, Natural Resources Defense Council, New York League of Conservation Voters, New York State Association of Counties, NYPIRG, Protect the Adirondacks, Riverkeeper, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter and Sisters of Mercy Justice Team – NY.
Additionally, 206 environmental, civic and faith-based groups and organizations have signed on to a letter of support for PRRIA, released today in conjunction with the press conference. A copy of the letter is attached to the release.
Harckham and Glick, the prime sponsors of PRRIA, chair the Environmental Conservation Committee in their respective branches of the States Legislature.
“The already immense and continuously growing environmental and health challenges posed by waste and plastic pollution are costing us untold billions of dollars each year,” said Senator Harckham. “Whether it is municipalities and taxpayers burdened by the day-after-day-after-day collection and disposal of waste, or the nightmarish costs resulting from the scientifically proven health effects of this pollution, including cancers, asthma and endocrine disruption, packaging reduction and revamped recycling are the only ways we can turn this financial crisis around.”
“The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act moving in both houses is a tremendous relief for municipalities, taxpayers, and the environment,” said Assemblymember Glick. “Our climate is in crisis and limiting the unnecessary and sometimes toxic packaging that is filling our landfills, harming New Yorkers and the environment is essential now. Globally, producers are already responding to similar legislation and finding the solutions needed for sustainable and reusable packaging. We need those same innovations in New York and our municipalities need relief from the increasing financial burden of excess packaging. This legislation needs to pass this session; our climate and New Yorkers can’t wait.”
Solid waste, and its steady increase in volume each year, has been impacting the environment and the health of New Yorkers all along, as well as causing a tremendous 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.
Moreover, the incineration of waste creates air quality issues and increases greenhouse gas emissions. It is the cash-strappd municipalities—not the multi-billion-dollar corporate giants that produce the packaging and plastic, that end up bearing the burden of collecting, sorting, and processing waste, driving up costs for taxpayers.
PRRIA will require producers of packaging and plastic waste with annual net revenues over $5 million and those responsible for more than two tons of annual packaging waste to reduce their packaging by 10% within three years and 30% within 12 years. Also, 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%.
Sen. Harckham along with Asm. Glick at today’s PRRIA press conference. 2) Sen. Harckham at the podium with advocates. Credit: Office of State Sen. Pete Harckham / Tom Staudter
