ALBANY, NY — Legislation passed the NYS Senate on June 7 that would place the end-of-life costs for plastic packaging and recyclable waste on the companies that produce them.

The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act would require companies to reduce packaging, improve the recyclability of their products, fund municipal recycling programs, and reduce the toxins in their packaging. Its sponsors are Senator Pete Harckham (D, 40) and Assemblymember Deborah Glick (D, 66). The bill is now before the Assembly.

Producers with annual net revenue of over $5 million that are responsible for more than two tons of packaging waste annually would be mandated to reduce their packaging weight by 10 percent within three years and 30 percent within 12 years.

The bill also sets standards for post-consumer recycled material in packaging. It exempts small businesses with under $5 million in revenue, dairy co-ops with fewer than 50 employees, and nonprofits that deliver medically tailored meals.

Producers would be required to register with a packaging reduction and recycling organization and create a plan for compliance with the new rules.