Particle.news

New York’s Overhauled Packaging Bill Faces Final Assembly Test

Assembly leaders are weighing a softened bill before the session ends.

Overview

  • The bill’s sponsor says Assembly leaders are considering an amended measure for a possible vote before the early‑June adjournment.
  • The plan would cut single‑use packaging by 30% over 12 years and require companies to fund a state‑approved program that reimburses cities for recycling and trash costs.
  • Recent changes narrowed the banned‑chemicals list, scrapped a proposed recycling inspector general, extended a 75% reusable or recyclable target to 2055, and added business carve‑outs and lower penalties.
  • Major business groups and the National Supermarket Association remain opposed, warning of higher grocery prices and fewer product choices if compliance costs rise.
  • The Senate has passed similar versions in past years, but the Assembly has held back amid heavy lobbying and resistance from industry and some unions, leaving the bill’s fate unsettled.