New Yorkers are drowning in single-use plastic. But a bill in the New York state legislature would dramatically reduce plastic pollution—and as a bonus, climate pollution.
Plastics manufacturing requires burning a ton of fossil fuels, which contributes to our warming climate. And an enormous amount of this plastic is used only once and then thrown away. It ends up on sidewalks, in rivers, or in landfills, where it never breaks down and contaminates our soil and water with microplastics. Or worse, it’s burned in incinerators and pollutes the air.
The Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act is a terrific bill. It would protect families from plastic pollution by
- Requiring companies to reduce their single-use plastic packaging by 50% in 12 years;
- Requiring companies to redesign the remaining packaging to be refillable, reusable, or truly recyclable;
- Banning a dozen of the most toxic chemicals used in packaging, including PFAS, benzene, toluene, phthalates, bisphenols, and heavy metals;
- Making companies legally and financially responsible for the end-of-life management of their packaging; and
- Requiring companies to pay to collect, sort, and manage discarded packaging.
If you live in New York, join Moms in contacting your lawmakers about this important bill today. The legislature is in session until June 6, so they need to pass this bill now.