Beyond Plastics Unveils 31 Days of Action for Plastic Free July
In celebration of Plastic Free July, Beyond Plastics is rolling out a robust slate of resources and activities to help all of us take concrete steps toward a plastic-free future. With Beyond Plastics’ help, individuals can participate in 31 days of simple, effective actions — one for every day of the month — to reduce reliance on plastic.
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.
Judith Enck: Pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act Immediately
“President Trump has launched an unprecedented assault on environmental protections. New Yorkers didn’t vote for any of this, yet at the eleventh hour the Assembly Speaker still has not brought up for a vote this widely popular environmental and public health measure that would pass major cost savings onto municipalities and taxpayers. As has been reported for weeks, the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act has enough votes to pass. It’s unbelievable that we’re in this position for the second year in a row. Assembly Speaker Heastie needs to bring the bill to a vote immediately.”
New York Mayors, Counties, Towns Urge Assembly to Pass Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act
Yesterday, the New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal Offices, the New York State Association of Counties, and the New York Association of Towns issued a joint statement urging the Assembly to pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (A1749 Glick).
Beyond Plastics Raises Concerns Over Inaccurate Packaging Cost Study
As the petrochemical industry and its allies lobby against the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S1464 Harckham/A1749 Glick) and falsely claim the legislation would raise grocery prices, Beyond Plastics is correcting the record.
National Sierra Club Head Ben Jealous Urges New York Assembly Leadership to Pass Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act
This morning, the national Sierra Club executive director and former NAACP executive director Ben Jealous sent a letter to New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Assembly Member Michaelle Solages, chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, urging them to pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act.
Award-Winning Environmental Justice Advocate Stands With Legislators Against Plastic Pollution
Today, Sharon Lavigne (founder, CEO, and director of Rise St. James and one of TIME’s 2024 most influential people) joined state legislators at a news conference at the New York state capital. Lavigne visited from St. James Parish, Louisiana, where she lives among the nation’s highest concentrations of pollution from plastics production in “Cancer Alley.” Lavigne and allies urged the New York State Assembly to pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (A1749 Glick) following the bill’s passage through the Senate on May 28.
California’s Polystyrene Foam Ban Is Not Being Enforced, Say Environmental Advocates
More than 90 organizations — including Beyond Plastics, Plastic Pollution Coalition, Californians Against Waste, Surfrider, and California Nurses for Environmental Health and Justice — have sent a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom calling for him to enforce the statewide ban on polystyrene foam food service products that went into effect on January 1, 2025. Despite the ban being in place for five months, these items remain widely available in stores and online.
ICYMI: As Chemical and Plastic Industry Spend Dirty Money, Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act Gains Momentum
As the final weeks of the New York state legislative session begin, the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act continues to gain momentum despite the plastics and chemical companies spending millions lobbying against the bill. Over the weekend and after the Senate passed the legislation, the Buffalo News editorialized in favor of it, calling for passage of the bill with teeth.
Senate Passes Major Plastic Reduction Bill; Faith Leaders Urge Assembly to Follow Suit and Put People Over Plastic
Yesterday, the New York State Senate voted 33-25 to pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S1464 Harckham/A1749 Glick). Today, 130 faith leaders from across New York sent a letter to the New York State Assembly urging them to pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S1464 Harckham/A1749 Glick).
BREAKING: New York State Legislature Passes Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act!
The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act Reduces Single-Use Plastic Packaging by 30%, Bans 17 of the Most Toxic Chemicals and Materials in Packaging, and Saves Taxpayers $1.3 Billion. Attention Now Shifts to Assembly
New Digital Ads Highlight How Plastic Reduction Legislation Would Protect New Yorkers from Microplastics and Save Tax Dollars
Following Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act’s Passage Through Senate Finance Committee, Beyond Plastics Announces New Digital Ad Campaign.
Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act Continues to Gain Momentum as Top Environmental Priority This Session
With the budget finally finished and five weeks of the New York state legislative session remaining, the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S1464/A1749) has gained considerable momentum and emerged as this year’s top environmental priority.
Advocates Rally With Environmental Leaders and Lawmakers to Put People Over Plastics
Group Will Build on Growing Momentum for Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act and Bigger Better Bottle Bill
Legislation to Curb Plastic Pollution and Save Taxpayers Money Passes Assembly Codes Committee
This afternoon, the New York State Assembly’s Codes Committee voted to pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S1464 Harckham / A1749 Glick).
ICYMI: New NY Focus Story Shows Chemical Industry Spending Big Against Packaging Reduction Legislation, As Bill Gains Momentum
This morning, NY Focus published a new story digging into the massive spending and lobbying against the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S1464 Harckham/A1749 Glick). According to the story, “the bill was Albany’s most lobbied-on outside of the budget.” The American Chemistry Council spent $930,000 against the bill in 2024, and has already spent $797,000 this year.
Plastic Reduction Legislation Picks Up Momentum, Secures Majority of Assembly Support
This week, the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act picked up even more support, securing a majority of Assembly members (76) as co-sponsors. The legislation is picking up momentum in the Senate too, with 29 co-sponsors.
New Poll: Majority of New Yorkers Want Less Plastic Packaging
73% of NY Residents Think Big companies Should Be Required to Reduce Packaging on Their Products; 61% Want the Soda, Beer, and Water Container Deposit Increased From 5 to 10 Cents
Report Projects New York Packaging Reduction Bill Will Save State Taxpayers $1.3 Billion in Just 10 Years
A new report from Beyond Plastics estimates that New Yorkers could save $1.3 billion over just one decade if the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA) is adopted. The report outlines substantial cost savings, reduced packaging waste, and higher recycling rates from adoption of the bill into law.
Environmental Groups Applaud Cancellation of Controversial Erie, Pennsylvania, Plastic Waste Facility that Would Grind Waste Plastic Into Smaller Plastic Pieces to Be Burned at Steel Mills in Indiana
Residents of Erie, Pennsylvania; Gary, Indiana; and environmental organizations are applauding the April 3 announcement from International Recycling Group (IRG) that it is canceling its proposed plastic waste facility. The facility would have operated in Erie, Pennsylvania, collecting plastic waste from a 750-mile radius and turning it into smaller pieces of plastic that would be burned in steel mills. With Erie and Gary already overburdened by pollution, residents of both cities were concerned about the damaging impacts of this false solution to plastic waste.