Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick, 66^th Assembly District Manhattan, Chair of the Environmental Conservation Committee, announced today a big step forward to enact the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (A1749/S1464) in New York as the legislation was passed out of the Environmental Conservation Committee. The bill now moves to the Codes Committee. The legislation incentivizes the reduction of packaging and a shift to more sustainable recyclable material, while removing toxic substances from packaging.

Assemblymember Glick said, “We face a crisis of trash- the cost of recycling and disposal has fallen to municipalities- and therefor taxpayers- or individuals paying for private waste removal. This legislation provides the incentive for producers to redesign packaging to use less and to use recycled content. It is time for producers to share the cost of disposing the packaging over which they have sole control.”

Last year, the PRRIA passed the Senate and moved through four committees in the Assembly. The bill is carried in the Senate by Senator Pete Harckham, Chair of the Environmental Conservation Committee. It has broad support from environmental organizations, with more than 300 organizations and businesses signing onto and sharing memos of support. In addition, it has widespread support of municipalities, including the New York City Council and Mayor’s office, along with support from the New York State Association of Counties and the New York Conference of Mayors.