Requires collection and reporting of data that will provide insight into local recycling and waste management systems. Includes accountability and enforcement mechanisms such as reporting and auditing requirements.

Prohibits the burning of plastic and waste-to-fuel from being considered recycling, protecting communities from this new source of pollution. Provides funding to local governments for waste reduction programs, recycling, and waste disposal through the use of new fees, which are adjusted based on the environmental impacts of the packaging. Transfers the responsibility for managing packaging waste from taxpayers to the companies that caused the problem, putting the economic burden where it belongs. Requires companies to transition 90% of their remaining packaging over 12 years to be either recyclable, compostable, or made of recycled content.Įliminates known toxic substances, including PFAS, mercury, lead, and formaldehyde from packaging, making packaging safer for consumers and more recyclable. Requires companies to gradually reduce their packaging by 50% over 10 years, which can be achieved by either eliminating packaging and/or switching to reuse and refill systems. The Extended Producer Responsibility bill includes the following key features: The policy would reduce the amount of packaging waste produced in New York by at least 50% over 10 years. The second bill, Extended Producer Responsibility (Assembly Bill A10185), utilizes the “polluter pays” principle to require companies such as McDonald’s and Amazon to reduce their packaging and pay for the cost of its disposal and recycling. It would also provide additional income to the many New Yorkers who salvage bottles and cans for recycling, a practice that about ten thousand low-income residents of New York City, alone, rely on as a source of income. These changes would create jobs, reduce litter, and increase recycling rates because more consumers would take the time to return containers for the higher deposit. The first bill, The Bigger Better Bottle Bill (Assembly Bill A10184), would expand New York’s highly successful 40-year old container deposit law to include non-carbonated beverages, wine, and liquor, and raise the deposit from a nickel to a dime. Introduced on by Assemblymember Steven Englebright, Chair of the New York State Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee, the bills take aim at the meager plastics recycling rate and would require the producers of packaging to actually reduce packaging, eliminate toxic chemicals from packaging, and pay for the costs of recycling and disposal. It's an extra treat, and it will provide great cushioning for many items.Albany, NY - New York’s mountains of toxic packaging waste would shrink if the state adopts two new bills that would reduce packaging, improve recycling, and reduce litter. Popcorn: It sounds crazy, but if you're sending a package to a friend or family member, you can pad any extra space with small bags of freshly popped popcorn. Plastic Bags and Packaging: Flexible plastic packaging and plastic bags are a great space-filler and they cushion breakables well. Yarn: Forget useless packaging materials-fill out packages destined for knitters and crafters with a skien or two of yarn. Instead, save wrapping paper to fill out future gifts that you need to send by post.Ĩ. Wrapping Paper: Some people reuse wrapping paper from larger gifts, but it never looks quite as fresh the second time around.

Re-sealable Sandwich Bags: Wash and reuse re-sealable bags filled with air to provide cushioning in packages that aren't quite full.ħ. (Tip: Even though it's shredded, you probably shouldn't use any paper that was once printed with confidential information.)Ħ. Office Paper Waste: Shredded paper waste from your office is a great filler for many packages. Junk Mail: In famous for producing unnecessary waste, junk mail can be crumpled up to fill space in packages.ĥ. Old Clothes: Cut up threadbare or ripped shirts, jeans and other clothing and pack around any objects as a space filler, or use larger pieces to protect breakables.Ĥ. Magazines: Pages from magazines are great for separating breakables, and you can crunch them up just like you would a newspaper.ģ. Newspaper: Balled up, torn into strips or just used to wrap items, your daily newspaper can be put to goo use as packing material (before it's ultimately recycled).Ģ.

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