Albany, NY – On October 23 and 24, New York State Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Deborah Glick, chairs of the Environmental Conservation Committee in their respective legislative houses, jointly conducted public hearings at the State Capitol. These back-to-back hearings were dedicated to exploring strategies for reducing solid waste burdens at both state and municipal levels.
The first hearing delved into enhancing the effectiveness of the state’s Bottle Bill, a landmark regulation with a five-cent deposit established in 1982. The second hearing revolved around the potential implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs statewide, aimed at curbing packaging waste and promoting recycling.
Harckham emphasized the urgency of these hearings in the context of addressing climate change, preserving the environment, and alleviating the considerable financial strain on taxpayers caused by waste disposal. He expressed gratitude to all the stakeholders and participants for their valuable insights, emphasizing the imperative need for collaborative action to reduce waste in New York and protect the environment.
Earlier in 2023, Harckham and Glick introduced the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S.4246A / A.5322). This legislation proposes EPR implementation, obliging companies with a net annual income exceeding $1 million to reduce consumer packaging, enhance their product packaging recycling efforts, and contribute to updating recycling infrastructure. Companies are also expected to create or maintain reusable and refill infrastructure, financially support municipal recycling programs, and minimize toxins in their packaging. If passed, the legislation is projected to annually save over $100 million for taxpayers in New York City and municipalities statewide.
Municipal recycling programs across the state grapple with rising costs, often necessitating tax hikes or restrictions on materials accepted for recycling. To address this challenge, several states have adopted Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs, shifting the responsibility for material management from municipalities to producers.
A substantial portion of waste generated in the United States, nearly one-third, comprises plastics and packaging materials. Hence, reducing usage, fostering reuse and refill systems, and enhancing recycling can have a substantial environmental impact. The hearings aimed to collect testimonies regarding potential legislative solutions, particularly an EPR program, to mitigate packaging waste.
The first hearing included testimonies from representatives of various organizations, including the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), Sure We Can (a nonprofit recycling center), Environmental Associates, and New York Association of Convenience Stores.
The second hearing featured 19 representatives from different organizations, such as the DEC, City of New York Department of Sanitation, Clean & Healthy New York, Beyond Plastics, New York League of Conservation Voters, and National Waste & Recycling Association.