200 Advocates Rally To Put People Over Plastics

On Tuesday, January 28, over 200 advocates came to the State Capitol to join faith leaders and elected officials to urge the state legislature to pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act and the Bigger Better Bottle Bill, kicking off this year’s campaign to end plastic pollution, save tax dollars, provide new revenue for localities, reduce plastic packaging, and protect New Yorkers’ health. The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act will reduce plastic packaging by 30% incrementally over 12 years, as well as phase out some of the most toxic chemicals used in packaging, including PFAS and vinyl chloride. It will slash greenhouse gas emissions associated with plastic (which are currently on track to outpace the emissions from coal by 2030). It will also make polluters pay by establishing a modest fee on packaging..The Bigger Better Bottle Bill builds on the 1982 law by expanding the types of beverage containers that will have refundable deposits, such as sports drinks, non-carbonated drinks, wine, and spirits; raises the deposit fee to a dime (it has been a nickel since 1983); and raise the handling fee for redemption centers. We hear first from Rev. Kathryn Beilke (interfaith coordinator, Beyond Plastics), followed by Alexis Goldsmith, national organizer of BP; Senator May, lead sponsor of the expanded bottle bill; and Blair Horner of NYPIRG. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.