It’s time to fix New York’s plastic and waste problem

The global plastic and waste crisis is destroying our planet and impacting our health. New York’s contribution is far from insignificant.

The New York Waste Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act is a comprehensive response that is focused on:
✅Reducing waste and plastics;
✅Improving recycling infrastructure;
✅Limiting the use of toxic chemicals;
✅Holding manufacturers accountable for the costs of disposing of packaging waste created.

Tell lawmakers to pass The New York Waste Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act before the legislative session ends on June 6.

Shelves of cut and prepared fruit in plastic containers on display in a supermarket.

The global plastic and waste crisis is destroying our planet and impacting our health. New York’s contribution is far from insignificant. The state is producing roughly 6.8 million tons of packaging waste each year—40 percent of all of our state’s waste!

The New York Waste Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act is a comprehensive response that is focused on reducing waste and plastics, improving recycling infrastructure, and limiting the use of toxic chemicals.

This bill has three crucial features: 

Enacting meaningful waste reduction targets, including a 50 percent reduction of packaging materials within 12 years and reducing pressure on municipal curbside recycling programs that struggle to keep up with the volume of waste;
Banning toxic additives and problem plastics that pose significant hazards to human health and the environment, are difficult to recycle and/or interfere with mechanical recycling systems, or are just simply unnecessary;
Promoting improvements and investments in traditional recycling infrastructure, not chemical recycling that creates hazardous air pollution and generates hazardous waste at industrial facilities that are often located in low-income communities and communities of color.

CTA

Your Message

Subject Reduce waste from plastics and improve recycling infrastructure

Dear New York Lawmaker:

Message Body

I am writing to urge you to pass The New York Waste Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S4246B/A5322B) before the session ends on June 6. We cannot afford to let another year go by without a comprehensive plan to protect the health of communities from toxic plastic pollution.

The global plastic and waste crisis is destroying our planet and impacting our health. New York’s contribution is far from insignificant. Our state is producing roughly 6.8 million tons of packaging waste each year—40% of our state’s total waste stream.

Every year New York’s solid waste crisis continues to intensify, with municipal landfills nearing capacity, 17 percent of the State’s municipal solid waste exported out of state for disposal, and continued reliance on 11 polluting incinerators across the state (the second-highest number per state in the US).

The New York Waste Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act has three crucial features to address this crisis:

- Enacting meaningful waste reduction targets, including a 50 percent reduction of packaging materials within 12 years and reducing pressure on municipal curbside recycling programs that struggle to keep up with the volume of waste; and requiring packaging materials to be truly reusable or recyclable.

- Banning toxic additives and problem plastics that pose significant hazards to human health and the environment, are difficult to recycle and/or interfere with mechanical recycling systems, or are just simply unnecessary;

- Promoting improvements and investments in traditional recycling infrastructure, not chemical recycling that creates hazardous air pollution and generates hazardous waste at industrial facilities that are often located in low-income communities of color.

We need you to urge leadership to bring the New York Waste Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act up for a vote before the session ends on June 6.

Our ability to address the growing solid waste and plastic pollution crisis hinges on this strong bill that will achieve nation-leading plastic waste reduction targets, reduce exposure to toxic chemicals lurking in packaging, and improve and expand our municipal recycling infrastructure to better serve our communities.

Thank you.

Your Information

Salutation *

First name *

Last name *

E-mail address *

Address *

Zip Code *

City *

State *

Phone

Get Text Message Alerts

By entering my mobile number and checking this box, I agree to receive urgent NRDC Alerts. Message frequency varies. Text HELP to 61636 for help; text STOP to 61636 to end. Msg& data rates may apply. I understand that I'm not required to opt-in as condition for taking action or donating. By leaving this box unchecked, I will not be opted-in to SMS messages at this time. Read our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.

The NRDC Action Fund will contact you with ways to get involved in our urgent campaigns. By signing up, you affirm your membership in the NRDC Action Fund. The NRDC Action Fund is the 501(c)(4) affiliate of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).