A new Siena Poll released on Thursday shows that New York residents support state policies to reduce single-use plastic packaging in New York. Seventy-three percent think big companies should be required to reduce packaging on their products, as proposed in the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S1464 Harckham/A1749 Glick). And 61% want the beverage container deposit increased from 5 to 10 cents, as proposed in the Bigger Better Bottle Bill (S5684 May/A6543 Glick). More highlights from the poll:
Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act:
- Bipartisan support for the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Act: 80% of Democrats think companies should be required to reduce packaging on their products, in addition to 62% of Independents and 60% of Republicans.
- 73% of suburban and upstate residents support the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. 72% support in NYC.
- 68% of Black New York residents and 67% of Latino residents support the legislation.
Bigger Better Bottle Bill:
- Bipartisan support for doubling the beverage container deposit from 5 to 10 cents: 63% of Democrats support the measure, in addition to 56% of Independents and 53% of Republicans.
- 66% of upstate residents support the measure, and 52% of suburban residents support it.
- 58% of Latino New Yorkers support doubling the bottle deposit.
In the past week, two new reports were released demonstrating the massive savings that would come from passing the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act and Bigger Better Bottle Bill. Taxpayers and private hauler customers would save $1.3 billion in just one decade by reducing packaging, and $108 million each year with the modernized Bottle Bill.
BACKGROUND
The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S1464 Harckham/A1749 Glick) will transform the way our goods are packaged. It will dramatically reduce waste and ease the burden on taxpayers by making companies, not consumers, cover the cost of managing packaging. The bill will:
Reduce plastic packaging by 30% incrementally over 12 years;
- By 2052, all packaging — including plastic, glass, cardboard, paper, and metal — must meet a recycling rate of 75% (with incremental benchmarks until then);
- Prohibit 17 of packaging’s worst toxic chemicals, including all PFAS chemicals, vinyl chloride, lead, and mercury;
- Prohibit the harmful process known as chemical recycling to be considered real recycling;
- Establish a modest fee on packaging paid by product producers, with new revenue going to local taxpayers; and
- Establish a new Office of Inspector General to ensure that companies fully comply with the new law.
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