ALBANY – State Senator Peter Harckham hopes to reduce packaging waste and single-use plastics across New York State by requiring producers to decrease overall packaging use by aiming to improve recyclability, invest in recycling infrastructure, support municipal recycling programs, and eliminating toxic substances from packaging materials.
The Putnam-Westchester lawmaker was joined by Manhattan Assemblywoman Deboah Glick Wednesday at an Albany news conference to announce sweeping amendments to the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act that encompass 150 changes across the legislation. The revisions reflect extensive engagement with industry leaders, legislators, municipalities, advocacy organizations, and states that have already enacted packaging extended producer responsibility laws.
“Through a long and engaged dialogue with stakeholders, we have forged a middle ground with these amendments to our bill, and now we are working to finally gain the necessary legislative and executive approvals that will save New Yorkers millions of dollars each year while helping to protect our environment,” Harckham said.
Glick added the goal of the legislation was to “deliver a bill that strengthens environmental and public health protections for New Yorkers while remaining workable for industry.”
The pair pointed out that New York is dealing with increasing problems related to solid waste and pollution, emphasizing that passing the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act this year is essential to address these issues.
New York’s massive stream of waste grows daily and continues to rise, posing significant environmental, public health, and fiscal challenges.
State officials noted that all remaining in-state landfill capacity will be exhausted within the next 15 years, forcing increased reliance on waste export or incineration—both of which carry significant environmental and economic costs.
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