Help Put People Over Plastic In New York!
Despite months of incredible grassroots action in Albany, the Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act (A1749-a/S1464-a), introduced by Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Deborah Glick, did not pass due to massive special interest lobbying against the bill.
The problems associated with single-use plastics and packaging continue to get worse with each year, though, so we will be back in 2027 to support effective policy solutions to plastic pollution and its associated health risks.
VIDEOS
RESOURCES
FACT SHEETS: How the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act Will Save Tax Dollars for These NY Municipalities:
New York City | Hempstead | Smithtown | Syracuse | Oyster Bay | North Hempstead | Buffalo | Islip | Yonkers | January 2026ONE-PAGE HANDOUT: Ten Requirements for Effective Packaging Reduction Legislation | January 2026
MEMO OF SUPPORT: Local Governments Support A1749, the Packaging Reduction Act | June 2025
MEMO OF SUPPORT: NYCOM, NYSAC & NYAOT Support The Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act | June 2025
LETTER OF SUPPORT: The Sierra Club Supports The Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act | June 2025
MEMO: List of significant amendments made to the Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act | May 2025
VOTE COUNT: NYS Senate Floor Vote on the Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act (S1464) | May 28, 2025
ONE-PAGE HANDOUT: Comparisons of Key Provisions Between the Industry’s Packaging Reduction Bill & A1749/S1464 | May 2025
FACT SHEET: Antimony In Packaging | May 2025
FACT SHEET: Bisphenols in Aluminum Beverage Can Liners | May 2025
REPORT: Projected Economic Benefits of the New York Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act | April 2025
POLL: New Yorkers of All Parties Overwhelmingly Support Requiring Companies to Reduce Packaging | April 2025
ONE-PAGE HANDOUT: Job Creation in the Recycling, Reuse, Refill, and Remanufacturing Sectors | April 2025
FACT SHEET | Alternatives to Plastic for Fertilizer Bags | April 2025
MEMO OF SUPPORT: New York City Environmental Justice Alliance | April 2025
MEMO OF SUPPORT: Consumer Reports Supports the Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act | March 2025
ONE-PAGE HANDOUT: The Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act (click here to download as a printer-friendly black & white PDF) | March 2025
FACT SHEET: Why the Affordable Waste Reduction Act Falls Short | March 2025
FACT SHEET: What Plastics Reduction Looks Like | March 2025
FACT SHEET: How Microplastics Enter the Human Body | March 2025
MEMO OF OPPOSITION: Beyond Plastics opposes the Affordable Waste Reduction Act (A6191/S5062) | March 2025
MEMO: Importance of Banning Toxic Chemicals in S1464/A1749 | February 2025
TESTIMONY: Judith Enck, President, Beyond Plastics and Former EPA Regional Administrator before the NYS Joint Budget Hearing | January 28, 2025
FACT SHEET: Why Colorado’s EPR Law Should Not Be Replicated | August 2024
Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act - Main Provisions | July 2024
MEMO OF SUPPORT: 301 Groups Support the NYS Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act | May 2024
32 Municipalities Support the Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act | May 2024
Ripped From the Headlines: Plastic Harms Human Health | May 2024
Polluter Pays: New York Taxpayers Save When Companies Pay to Deal With Packaging Waste | April 26, 2024
Memo of Support for the Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act | May 2024
MEMO: Rebuttal of the York University Study cited by industry opponents to PRRIA | March 2024
Fact Sheet: The Worst of the Worst: High-Priority Plastic Materials, Chemical Additives, and Products to Phase Out | NRDC | October 2023
NEWS
Spectrum News | Plastic packaging reduction bill sees movement in New York Legislature | 5/13/26
City & State NY | With CLCPA rollbacks imminent, lawmakers continue push for packaging bill | 5/13/26
Beyond Plastics | As Governor Hochul Guts Climate Law, 250+ Rally with State Lawmakers: End Plastic Pollution Now | 5/11/26
Spectrum News | Hochul Defends State Budget Process As Finalization Efforts Continue | 5/11/26
USA Today | NY School Lunches Shouldn’t Come with Sides of Microplastics | 5/7/26
Syracuse.com | Cut Waste, Cut Costs: Why NY Lawmakers Should Pass Packaging Law | 5/4/26
NY State Senate | Harckham, Glick Introduce Amendments to Packaging Reduction Bill | 4/28/26
Plastic News | ‘Major concessions’ in New York EPR plan, industry remains opposed | 4/28/26
Beyond Plastics | Dozens of Amendments Made to Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act | 4/28/26
Hoodline | Albany Plastic Showdown as Assembly Gears Up for High-Stakes Packaging Brawl | 2/14/26
State of Politics | Plastics reduction bill will once again face a climb in the state Assembly | 2/13/26
Capitol Confidential | Packaging bill proponents plot new path toward passage in 2026 | 2/13/26
Syracuse public Media WAER | A Black History Month connection to a measure to reduce plastic waste and pollution | 2/9/26
Albany Times Union | Packaging bill faced massive lobbying effort, report shows | 10/8/2025
Finger Lakes 1 | New York packaging bill buried under corporate opposition | 10/8/2025
Hell Gate | Big Box Companies Are Killing NY’s Environmental Efforts With Cash | 10/8/2025
Packaging Gateway | New York packaging bill faces 4-to-1 opposition | 10/8/2025
WNYC | A New Report Details David Vs. Goliath Battle | 10/7/2025
Rochester First | Enck talks corporate lobbying against Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act | 10/7/2025
Capitol Confidential | Supporters of the packaging reduction bill that failed on the last day of session were outnumbered 4-to-1, a new report shows | 10/7/2025
Spectrum News | Advocates say their report on EPR lobbying shows classic Albany dysfunction, while business group says opposition is stiff for a reason | 10/7/2025
Politico - New York Playbook | PACK IT UP | 10/7/2025
News 10 ABC (WTEN) | Report: Corporations outspent environmentalists lobbying for New York anti-plastics law | 10/7/2025
City & State NY | Opinion: New York is ready for single-use plastic waste reduction | 9/25/2025
WAER 88.3 | Advocates push bill to shift packaging waste costs to producers to reduce plastics & trash | 9/22/2025
FingerLakes1 | Packaging bill heads for third-round fight | 9/17/2025
Spectrum News One | As advocates gear up for another packaging bill fight, Glick says she's open to 'reasonable' conversations about changes | 9/16/2025
WAMC | Activists urge NYS Assembly pass the Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act | 9/15/2025
NY Focus | How the Clock Ran Out on One of Albany’s Biggest Environmental Bills | 6/19/2025
Packaging Insights | New York State Assembly Fails to Pass Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act | 6/19/2025
Packaging Gateway | Industry Blocks New York Packaging Law in Final Hours | 6/19/2025
Waste 360 | New York Packaging EPR Stalls Again in the Assembly | 6/19/2025
WXXI | NY Lawmakers Put Brakes on Plastic Packaging and Other Environmental Bills | 6/18/2025
Albany News 10 | Single-Use Plastic Packaging Bill Not Voted on In NYS Assembly | 6/18/2025
Spectrum | Enck and Speaker Heastie Trade Blows Over EPR Packaging Bill | 6/18/2025
Politico Playbook NY | Packaging Fallout | 6/18/2025
Buffalo News | Plastics Reduction Bill Hits Snags as Assembly Concludes Session | 6/18/2025
Packaging Dive | New York Legislative Session Ends Without Assembly Vote on Packaging EPR | 6/18/2025
Plastics Recycling Update | NY Legislative Session Ends, Again Without EPR | 6/18/2025
Spectrum | State Assembly Adjourns, Will Not Pass EPR Packaging Bill | 6/17/2025
Beyond Plastics | Assembly Fails to Pass Widely Popular Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act | 6/17/2025
Inside Climate News | New York City Has a Trash Problem. A Packaging Reduction Bill Could Help | 6/14/2025
Beyond Plastics | Mayors, Counties, and Towns Urge Assembly to Pass Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act | 6/11/2025
Times Union Editorial Board | Trash the Plastic, New York: The Benefits of the Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act Outweigh the Costs | 6/11/2025
Beyond Plastics | Beyond Plastics Raises Concerns Over Inaccurate Packaging Cost Study | 6/11/2025
Beyond Plastics | National Sierra Club Head Ben Jealous Urges New York Assembly Leadership to Pass Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act | 6/10/2025
NY Daily News Editorial Board | Reduce wrapping, reduce waste: Speaker Carl Heastie and the Assembly must approve plastics bill | 6/8/2025
Times Union Opinion | LeBrun: The world is choking on plastic | 6/8/2025
Times Union Opinion | Producers Should be Responsible for Packaging | 6/8/2025
Beyond Plastics | Award-Winning Environmental Justice Advocate Stands With Legislators Against Plastic Pollution | 6/4/2025
Syracuse.com Op-Ed | Chemical industry sinks to new low to thwart NY packaging reduction bill | 6/3/2025
Beyond Plastics | ICYMI: As Chemical and Plastic Industry Spend Dirty Money, Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act Gains Momentum| 6/2/2025
Packaging Gateway | New York passes bill to shift packaging waste costs to producers | 6/2/2025
Buffalo News Editorial Board | Bill that has the teeth to address New York's plastic problem should pass | 6/1/2025
CBS News 6 | Environmental advocates push for packaging reduction bill at State Capitol | 5/30/2025
Albany Times Union | Packaging reduction bill passes Senate; Assembly fate unclear | 5/30/2025
City & State NY | Faith leaders urge Assembly to pass packaging reduction bill | 5/29/2025
Spectrum News | Bill aimed at reducing plastic packaging waste passes N.Y. state Senate | 5/29/2025
Beyond Plastics | BREAKING: New York State Legislature Passes Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act! | 5/28/2025
NY Focus | As Albany Debates Plastics Crackdown, Industry Pushes Softer Alternative | 5/28/2025
Mott Haven Herald | Bronx Reps Side with Chemical Giants Over Environmentalists on Waste Bill, After Industry Lobbying | 5/27/2025
The Yonkers Ledger | Call to Cut Plastic Packaging in NYS and Boost Recycling | 5/27/2025
The Daily Voice | Chemistry Council Lobbyists Skirt Campaign Finance Laws: Rivertowns Activists Fight Back | 5/20/2025
The Daily Voice | NY’s Mounting Garbage Crisis Nears Breaking Point As Seneca Meadows Landfill Faces Shutdown | 5/20/2025
Newsday | Prisons, plastics, end of life among issues as NYS legislative session winds down | 5/17/2025
NY Focus | Reporters’ Notebook: Ad Campaign Funded by Chemical Industry Skirted Campaign Finance Rules | 5/15/2025
Spectrum News | Lawmakers to advocates: 'Be vocal' in last month of session | 5/14/2025
Beyond Plastics | Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act Continues to Gain Momentum as Top Environmental Priority This Session | 5/13/2025
The Hudson Independent | Rivertowns Activists Take Their Ambitious Plastics Recycling Campaign to Albany | 5/13/2025
NY Focus | Chemical Industry Redoubles Campaign Against New York Waste Bill | 5/6/2025
Hudson Valley One | A few highlights of the Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act | 5/1/2025
Buffalo News Opinion | New Yorkers could be healthier with less plastic packaging |4/27/2025
Finger Lakes Daily News | NY Counties Call for Action on Waste Reduction | 4/23/2025
Beyond Plastics | New Poll: Majority of New Yorkers Want Less Plastic Packaging | 4/23/2025
Beyond Plastics | Report Projects New York Packaging Reduction Bill Will Save State Taxpayers $1.3 Billion in Just 10 Years | 4/16/2025
Spectrum News | Packaging reduction bill gains momentum in N.Y. as opponents push alternative | 3/20/2025
NYS Senate | Environmental, Civic and Faith-Based Groups, Legislators Call for Packaging Reduction | 3/20/2025
Beyond Plastics | Legislation to Curb Plastic Pollution and Save Taxpayers Money Passes Senate Environmental Conservation Committee | 3/11/2025
Albany Times Union | The truth about plastics is that much of it can't be recycled | 3/9/2025
Beyond Plastics | New Version of a 1990 Packaging Waste Report Shows the Problem Has Only Persisted 35 Years Later | 3/7/2025
Beyond Plastics | Legislation to Curb Plastic Pollution and Save Taxpayers Money Passes Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee | 3/4/2025
Beyond Plastics | As Plastics Industry Boasts About Their Political Access in Albany, Taxpayers Get to Foot the Bill for Their Plastic Pollution | 1/29/2025
City & State NY | Environmental advocates recycle campaign against plastic packaging for new session | 1/28/2025
New York Times | New York Has a Week to Pass Laws on Social Media and Plastics. Will It? | 6/3/2024
Albany Times Union | We're choking on plastics. Here's a chance to do something about it. | 6/3/2024
Newsday | NYS legislative session's final week: Top issues are social media, climate change | 6/3/2024
Gothamist | NY social media regulation, bottle refunds on deck as NY legislative session ends | 6/3/2024
Yonkers Ledger | 23 Westchester Elected Officials Urge Senator Stewart-Cousins to Reduce Plastic Packaging by 50% | 5/31/2024
Beyond Plastics | 23 Westchester Elected Officials Urge Senator Stewart-Cousins to Reduce Plastic Packaging by 50% | 5/31/2024
Buffalo News | Key bills percolating in Albany as Legislature's session nears end | 5/31/2024
Buffalo News | The Editorial Board: These bills will help advance New York's sustainability mission | 5/29/2024
Spectrum News | Supporters of New York plastics reduction bill make final push in the face of 'formidable' opposition | 5/28/2024
LoHud | Advocates Tell Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins 'People over Plastic' as Session Winds Down | 5/28/2024
New York Times | The Push to Control Plastic Waste in New York: What to Know | 5/27/2024
WAER | Environmental Bills Dominate End of Session Priorities for Two CNY state lawmakers | 5/27/2024
Black Westchester | Westchester Residents Urge Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins: Put People Over Plastics! | 5/23/2024
Beyond Plastics | New Poll: 82% of NY Voters Say Single-Use Plastic Packaging Is a Problem | 5/22/2024
NY Daily News | Reduce wrapping, reduce waste: Cut plastic to save money and the environment | 5/20/2024
Albany Times Union | Uncap This Bottle Bill | 5/15/2024
Beyond Plastics | New York City Leaders Unite For Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act | 5/9/2024
Beyond Plastics | Judith Enck Challenges America’s Plastic Makers to a ‘Cheese Debate’ | 5/8/2024
Bloomberg Law | New York Lawmakers Renew Effort to Reduce Single-Use Plastics | 4/10/2024
Beyond Plastics | Hidden Cost of Plastics: New Study Shows Single-Use Plastics Worse for Health Than Previously Known | 3/25/2024
City Limits | Chemical Industry Amps Up Lobbying to Block New York’s Waste Reduction Bill | 3/7/2024
ExxonKnews | Why the oil and chemical lobby is taking aim at New York’s plastic waste bill | 3/4/2024
Gothamist | New York Lawmakers Push Bill to Crack Down on Plastic Packaging | 2/28/24
ABC7 Eyewitness News | New Bill Aims To Tackle Plastic Packaging and Recycling | 2/28/24
WNYC FM Radio | NYS Lawmakers Want To Charge Businesses Fees Based on How Much Plastic Packaging They Produce | 2/27/24
Beyond Plastics | New York Is Not Disposable: 300+ Advocates, Environmental Leaders, and Lawmakers Rally at New York State Capitol to Fight Plastic Pollution | 2/27/24
Inside Climate News | Environmental Groups Eye a Potential Win with New York Packaging Bill | 2/20/24
Beyond Plastics | Legislation to Curb Plastic Pollution Gains Momentum; Passes Environmental Conservation Committee and Secures Majority of Assembly and Senate Support | 2/13/24
WXXI | Environmentalists Say Cutting the Amount of Plastic Packaging In Products by Half Is a Goal | 1/18/24
Channel 13 | The Push To Reduce Plastic Packaging Across New York State | 1/18/24
Packaging Dive | Environmental Advocates Renew Push for New York EPR Bill | 1/18/24
City & State NY | Quite a few lawmakers are on board to reduce NY plastic packaging by half | 1/18/24
Politico NY | Five environmental issues to watch this session | 1-8-24
WXXI News | Supporters of reducing plastic packaging say a hearing on the bill signals progress | 10-27-23