The bill’s passage could be pivotal in the fight to rein in plastics, and the industry knows it.
Last week at the New York State Capitol, more than 300 advocates joined lawmakers for a rally to urge the passage of a landmark waste reduction bill that proponents say is the best piece of legislation in the country aimed at lessening plastic trash. The bill is gaining fast momentum — but lobbyists for major oil and chemical companies want to make sure it doesn’t cross the finish line.
The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act would dramatically cut the amount and toxicity of plastic garbage New Yorkers throw away by targeting the source. It would reduce plastic packaging in New York by half over the next 12 years, and it would prevent a slew of toxic chemicals from being used in those materials. Notably, it would also shift the cost of managing plastic waste from municipal governments and taxpayers to the companies that produce it — including oil majors like ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Shell.