SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): The State Senate has introduced a legislation aimed at reducing consumer packaging and boosting recycling. The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act was introduced by state Sen. Pete Harckham.
The bill is expected to revolutionize New York’s approach to solid waste by shifting the responsibility on corporations, thereby relieving the burden of solid waste management and disposal on local governments, taxpayers and consumers. It proposes to effectively address the burning issue of rising waste volumes.
The legislation makes it mandatory for companies with a net annual income in excess of $1 million to reduce consumer packaging, improve recycling efforts and provide support in updating recycling infrastructure. In addition, they will also require to minimize toxins in their packaging and offer financial support to municipal recycling programs.
The producers will be required to reduce their packaging weight by 10% in 3 years, 20% in 5 years, 30% in 8 years, 40% in 10 years and 50% in 12 years. In addition, it also places certain minimum level of post-consumer recycled material for various packaging. For instance, the recycled content in glass should be at least 35%, while that of paper bags and plastic bags are fixed at 40% and 20% respectively.