Follow the Money: New Report Reveals David vs. Goliath Battle Over New York’s Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act
A new report from Beyond Plastics reveals that in 2025, over 100 businesses — including Amazon, McDonald’s, ExxonMobil, and Coca-Cola — lobbied to block the New York Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S1464 / A1749), outnumbering supporters’ lobbyists by a margin of 4 to 1. Titled “Follow the Money: The David vs. Goliath Battle to Pass the New York Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act," the report found that 107 registered businesses lobbied to defeat the packaging-reduction bill, and only 23 registered organizations lobbied to pass it.
Environmentalists and Community Leaders from Across New York Rally in Albany Calling on the State Assembly to Pass Packaging Reduction Act
New York environmentalists and community leaders from across the state rallied outside the state Capital building in Albany on Saturday, September 13 in support of the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (Assembly Bill 1749). The bill passed the New York state Senate the last two years but has not yet been brought to the New York state Assembly floor for a vote.
Two Years in a Row, New York State Assembly Fails to Pass Widely Popular Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act
For the second year in a row, the Democratic supermajority- controlled New York State Assembly failed to vote on the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (A1749 Glick) despite having enough votes to pass. Judith Enck, Beyond Plastics president and former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator, issued the following statement.
Legislation to Curb Plastic Pollution and Save Taxpayers Money Passes Senate Environmental Conservation Committee
Today, the New York State Senate’s Environmental Conservation Committee passed the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S1464 Harckham / A1749 Glick) after the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee passed the bill last week. Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics and former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator, issued the following statement in response.
New Version of a 1990 Packaging Waste Report Shows the Problem Has Only Persisted 35 Years Later
Beyond Plastics, NYPIRG Show Side-by-Side Comparisons of Findings of 1990 ‘Plagued By Packaging’ Report and 2025 in Call for New York State to Pass Packaging Reduction Bill
Legislation to Curb Plastic Pollution and Save Taxpayers Money Passes Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee
The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (A5322B Glick / S4246B Harckham) passed through the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee today by a vote of 22-8.
As Plastics Industry Boasts About Their Political Access in Albany, Taxpayers Get to Foot the Bill for Their Plastic Pollution
Yesterday, after 250 New Yorkers traveled to Albany and rallied at the Capitol against plastic pollution, Plastics Industry Association president and CEO Matt Seaholm shared a picture with New York Governor Kathy Hochul from a ritzy reception
New Siena Poll: 58% of Voters Wanted Legislature to Pass Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act
After Governor Hochul abruptly canceled congestion pricing, which impacted the final days of the New York State legislative session, the New York State Assembly went home without passing the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, despite the bill passing in the senate on June 7th, and reports that the bill was set to pass in the assembly. Now, a new Siena Poll shows that 58% to 31% of New York voters think the legislature should have passed the bill.
Fight Continues for Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act in Albany
Senate Passed Legislation, But Assembly Ran Out of Time to Bring It to the Floor
Senate Passes Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, Advocates Call on Assembly for Floor Vote TODAY
The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act Reduces Single-Use Plastic Packaging by 30%, Bans 17 of the Most Toxic Chemicals in Packaging, Saves Taxpayers Millions, and Knocks Out Polluting Chemical Recycling
23 Westchester Elected Officials Urge Senator Stewart-Cousins to Reduce Plastic Packaging by 50%
Westchester elected officials and organizations emphasize positive local financial, environmental, and health impacts of reducing single-use plastic packaging by 50%
100 Environmental Justice Communities Across USA Write to Speaker Heastie and Senator Stewart Cousins to Reduce Plastic Packaging by 50% and Protect Their Health
From Appalachia to Louisiana to Texas, leaders of frontline environmental justice communities harmed by plastic pollution sent a letter to Speaker Heastie and Leader Stewart-Cousins urging them to pass the strongest Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act possible, with national impact
New Poll: 82% of NY Voters Say Single-Use Plastic Packaging Is a Problem
A new Siena Poll released today shows that voters overwhelmingly support policies to reduce single-use plastic packaging in New York. 82% say that single-use plastic packaging is a problem, and a bipartisan 67% of voters support the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act
New York City Leaders Unite For Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act
NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch, NYC Council Sanitation Chair Shaun Abreu, the Mayor’s Office for Climate and Environmental Justice, and more Environmental Leaders Call On Speaker Heastie and Leader Stewart-Cousins to Bring Popular Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act to a Floor Vote
Judith Enck Challenges America’s Plastic Makers to a ‘Cheese Debate’
This morning, the Albany Times Union reported on the New York state Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (A5322B Glick / S4246B Harckham), and claims from opponents that the legislation would be a terrible nuisance to New Yorkers who absolutely cannot live without individually wrapped cheese slices.
New York Is Not Disposable: 300+ Advocates, Environmental Leaders, and Lawmakers Rally at New York State Capitol to Fight Plastic Pollution
Senate Environmental Chair Pete Harckham, Assemblymember Harvey Epstein, and more rally for Bigger Better Bottle Bill and Packaging Reduction and Recycling Act
Legislation to Curb Plastic Pollution Gains Momentum; Passes Environmental Conservation Committee and Secures Majority of Assembly and Senate Support
The New York State Assembly’s Environmental Conservation Committee voted to pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act — just days after the bill secured a majority of co-sponsors in both the assembly and the Senate.
22 Albany County Legislators Proclaim Support for State Waste Reduction Bills
County Legislators Call on the State to Adopt the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act and the Bigger Better Bottle Bill
Leading Businesses Join Environmentalists in Support of Passing the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act at Albany Legislative Hearing
While in Albany to attend a major legislative hearing on packaging reduction legislation, 12 companies, representing industry leaders in innovative solutions to end the scourge of single-use plastic packaging, are joining forces with environmentalists calling on the New York State legislature to pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act.
As NYers Struggle to Breathe, Enviro Groups Call on NYS Leg to Pass Key Climate Bills Now!
While climate-driven wildfires burn Canada and make air quality across NYS "very unhealthy," will lawmakers stand with the dirty fossil fuel companies at fault, or New Yorkers?