22 Albany County Legislators Proclaim Support for State Waste Reduction Bills
County Legislators Call on the State to Adopt the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act and the Bigger Better Bottle Bill
For Immediate Release: December 19, 2023
Contacts:
Alexis Goldsmith, Beyond Plastics — AlexisGoldsmith@Bennington.edu, (260) 444-1341
Albany County Legislator Sam Fein — (617) 953-8126
Twenty-two members of the Albany County legislators, including the entire Legislative Black Caucus, have signed a proclamation in support of two bills pending in the state legislature that would address plastic pollution, significantly reduce waste going to landfills and incinerators, and require companies to help with the cost of recycling or reducing their packaging. Overall, the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act and the Bigger Better Bottle Bill could save state taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars annually while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.
“I commend my colleagues Legislator Sam Fein and Legislator William Reinhardt who took great initiative in pursuing support of this legislation,” said Andrew Joyce, chairman of the legislature. “The state’s proposed Packaging Reduction Act aligns with Albany County’s goals of establishing the greenest space in the state. That means transitioning to a greener workforce, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately lessens our use of harmful packaging plastic waste. It’s time to act on climate issues, which require vigilance and are imperative in order to create a safer space for families to raise our future generations.”
The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act — Senate Bill 4246-a/ Assembly Bill 5322-a, sponsored by Environmental Conservation Chairs Senator Pete Harckham (D-Westchester) and Assemblymember Deborah Glick (D-Manhattan) — would require most companies that sell products in New York to reduce their single-use plastic packaging by 50% over 12 years. The packaging that remains must be reusable, or reach a 70% recycling rate. The bill also prohibits some of the most toxic chemicals from packaging. Capital District co-sponsors of the bill include assemblymembers Patricia Fahy, John McDonald III, and Phil Steck, and Sen. Neil Breslin.
"New York state legislators have at their fingertips the power to substantially reduce the state's plastic pollution and climate footprint while protecting New Yorkers' health," said Beyond Plastics' national organizing director, Alexis Goldsmith. "The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act reduces plastic packaging by half over the next 12 years. Paired with the Better Bottle Bill, New York's impact could be even greater. Let's set a precedent for others to follow and pass this bill in the next session."
The Bigger Better Bottle Bill, Senate Bill 237-a/ Assembly Bill 6353, would modernize the state’s current deposit system by raising the refundable deposit to a dime and expanding the types of deposit containers to include tea, sports drinks, wine, and liquor. The changes could recover more than 5 billion additional containers from the waste stream each year.
“Our planet cannot continue to bear the burden of the vast amount of waste we produce. It is damaging to our environment, our health, and our wallets,” said Albany County legislator Sam Fein. “The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act and the Bigger Better Bottle Bill will pave the way for a significant reduction in plastic consumption and help ensure a healthier environment. It's time we embrace responsible practices to safeguard our planet for generations to come."
Plastic production is a major environmental justice, climate change, and human health problem. An average of 6.8 million tons of packaging waste is produced each year in New York — 40% of the total waste stream. Most of this packaging is sent to landfills, burned in incinerators, or is a major source of pollution on our streets, parks, and rivers, and the Atlantic Ocean. Only 5% to 6% of plastic is actually recycled, and it is often turned into products or materials of lesser value. The cost of disposal, pollution cleanup, and recycling is currently shouldered by taxpayers, not by the companies that make packaging decisions.
When burned in incinerators or processed in chemical recycling facilities, plastic waste releases toxic chemicals. New York has 10 aging municipal waste incinerators, which burn about 15% of our solid waste while emitting greenhouse gasses, particulate matter, heavy metals, and other toxic pollution. Incineration also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions from plastic. Overall, the production, use, and disposal of plastic contributes twice as many greenhouse gas emissions as the global aviation industry.
The Department of Environmental Conservation and the Climate Action Council also support comprehensive waste reduction that addresses the root of the problem by replacing single-use products and packaging with reusable, refillable design. The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act combined with the Bigger Better Bottle Bill would position New York as a global leader in reducing plastic pollution, while protecting fenceline communities at home, reinvigorating the recycling system, and easing the financial burden of waste for taxpayers. Albany County calls on the state legislature to pass these bills as soon as possible when session begins in January and for Gov. Hochul to support and sign these bills into law.
About Beyond Plastics
Launched in 2019, Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project that pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution and promote alternatives to plastics. Using deep policy and advocacy expertise, Beyond Plastics is building a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts for the production, usage, and disposal of plastics.
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