Advocates Say New York Needs To Cut Plastic Packaging In Half To Help Save The Planet

[TTL News 318]

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The New York State Legislature returns Monday, and environmentalists hope legislators will act on a series of measures to combat climate change and clean up pollution. 

Among other measures, they are trying once again to get the New York Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act passed before the Legislature adjourns for the year in June. 

The measure would cut in half all the plastic packaging that is now used.

Judith Enck, a former regional administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency who now heads Bennington College’s Beyond Plastics, said plastics recycling has been an “abysmal failure,” with only 6% of packaging and single-use products being recycled.

Enck said the bill’s goals are incremental: It calls for a 10% reduction in plastic packaging after three years, a 20% reduction after five years, a 30% reduction after eight years and a 40% reduction after 10 years.

"We get to 50% reduction after 12 years,” Enck said. “It's a glide path, and it is a very reasonable schedule. Big companies know how to innovate when the law requires them to do that.”

The bill also bans toxic chemicals in plastic packaging and imposes a fee on producers of the materials.

 

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[Ann 270]

Didn’t  NY, years ago, say we had to get rid of glass bottles and paper bags to save the planet?

[TTL News 318]

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Opponents of the bill have also pointed to reporting from the New York Post saying that the bill would ban individually wrapped cheese.

While cheese slices that are completely wrapped in plastic in addition to being wrapped in outer packaging would face requirements to reduce packaging, Enck said the solution could be something done by many sliced cheese packages: placing strips of wax paper between slices.

“Let’s have the cheese debate,” Enck said. “I’m happy to have it.”

 

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