New York
YES on Plastic Reduction and Reuse Bills
New York has an exciting opportunity to pass 2 groundbreaking bills on reducing plastic pollution and boosting reusables. These bills reduce packaging waste, tackle litter, save taxpayer money, create good green jobs, hold corporations accountable and more.
The Bigger Better Bottle Bill would:
- Expand the bottle bill and create more consistency by including sports drinks, iced tea and more. More beverage types being included in the program means more recycling, less confusion and less pollution.
- Raise the deposit from 5¢ to 10¢ to increase redemption rates, support some of New York’s most marginalized workers and further reduce litter. The nickel deposit was put into place in 1983, if that nickel was adjusted for inflation, it would be 15¢ today.
- Include a reuse and refill quota, which has never been passed in the US before. Major beverage companies would be required to sell 25% of their beverages in reusable bottles by 2030.
The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act would:
- Require companies to reduce their single-use packaging by 30% in 12 years, with the remaining redesigned to be refillable, reusable or truly recyclable.
- Bans dozens of toxic chemicals commonly used in packaging, including PFAs, vinyl chloride, lead, mercury, formaldehyde and more.
- Prohibit industry-promoted chemical recycling from counting as a waste solution and real recycling.
- Make companies legally and financially responsible for their pollution and litter, by paying a modest fee on packaging instead of leaving taxpayers to foot the bill as we currently do. This would provide much-needed taxpayer relief and funding for New York’s municipal recycling and composting programs and waste reduction infrastructure
Big Plastic is busy trying to stop these bills in their tracks. From spreading misinformation to flooding policymakers’ inboxes, their lobbyists are trying every tactic to delay regulation on the plastics industry. But we have the people power to make much-needed change happen.
Can you help urge your state representatives to vote YES?
Ways to Take Action
1. Call Your Reps
Use our tool to easily call your rep and urge them to vote YES on the bill. We have you covered with everything you need: who to call, what number to dial and a sample script of what to say. It’s empowering to make your voice heard to those who are passing laws! Remember, it is a crucial part of their role to listen to and represent you.
2. Send Postcards
Mail a handwritten postcard directly to your New York representatives. We provide postcards, stamps, recommendations of who to write to and sample messages.
These “Wish You Were Here” vintage vacation-inspired postcards feature different countries that are reuse success stories. Germany and the Philippines have over 50% of their bottled beverages sold in reusables and refilled!
Short on time? You can fill out a virtual postcard and we will send it for you.
3. Message Your Reps
Click and send your reps an email urging them to vote YES.
4. Share on Social Media
Tweet and tag legislators on Twitter/X. You can find your Senator and Assemblymember, and their social handles, and tag them too.
- Here’s a sample post:
@CarlHeastie @AndreaSCousins Let’s reduce litter and plastic pollution, create green jobs, and hold corporations accountable for their waste. Vote YES on the Bigger Better Bottle Bill (A6353-a / S237-c) and the Packaging Reduction Act (A5322-b / S4246-b)!
Thank you for advocating! Change doesn’t happen without changemakers like you.
Questions? Email Alex at alex [at] storyofstuff [dot] org.
