Two Years in a Row, New York State Assembly Fails to Pass Widely Popular Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act
Melissa Valliant Melissa Valliant

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.

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National Sierra Club Head Ben Jealous Urges New York Assembly Leadership to Pass Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act
Melissa Valliant Melissa Valliant

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.

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Award-Winning Environmental Justice Advocate Stands With Legislators Against Plastic Pollution
Melissa Valliant Melissa Valliant

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.

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ICYMI: As Chemical and Plastic Industry Spend Dirty Money, Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act Gains Momentum
Melissa Valliant Melissa Valliant

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.    

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