We, the undersigned, are asking our NYS lawmakers to support the ‘Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act’ S.4246/A.5322. This legislation would require product manufacturers to detoxify packaging
materials and reduce packaging waste by 50% over the next 12 years. See the bill here: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S4246

New York is a Great Lakes State and as such, we are guardians of the globally significant watershed containing over 20% of the world's fresh surface water. Plastics are the primary litter pollution source plaguing our WNY community's waterways and our Great Lakes watershed. This could be seen first hand by thousands of volunteers last month at Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper's Spring Sweep, which collected 9 tons of trash from our waterways and shorelines in one morning, over 80% of which was plastic, including food wrappers and beverage bottles.

Plastics like food packaging provide an immediate threat to the health of our waterways and the surrounding ecosystems. In 2021, New York was the third state in the nation to pass an Environmental Rights Amendment, affording constitutional protection of our rights to clean water and a healthful environment. The time is now to hold producers accountable for their role in polluting our waterways and and making for an unhealthy environment. We urge your support of the ‘Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act’ so that measurable progress can be made to reduce plastic packaging and make monumental strides towards solving New York’s packaging waste problem. The impact of this legislation would be felt locally by our communities and our waterways.