Single-use plastic packaging bill not voted on in NYS Assembly

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- Assemblymembers left Albany on Tuesday without voting on the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure bill.

"The plastic pollution problem is not going away, and neither are we," said Judith Enck, President of Beyond Plastics.

According to Enck, the bill would have reduced single-use plastic packaging by 30% over the next 12 years.

"It would have eliminated 17 of the most toxic chemicals used to make packaging," said Enck. "It would have put a modest fee on packaging with new money going to local governments so that it was the businesses that produce all this packaging would be financially responsible for recycling or disposal as opposed to you and I as taxpayers."

Despite the bill making it though the Senate and committees in Assembly, the bill did not get voted on the last day of the legislative session.

"We are certain we had enough votes to pass it on the floor, but there was ferocious industry opposition."

Among the groups opposing the legislation was the Business Council of New York, which stated, “We are thankful leadership and members of the Assembly listened to the concerns of businesses."

Advocates are hoping it will pass next year.