What's happening
This bill requires New York to create a statewide cigarette butt recycling program, including collection facilities, deposits, and public education.
Why it matters
Creates financial incentives for cigarette butt return. By establishing a minimum deposit and refund value (at least one cent per butt), the bill encourages smokers and others to collect and return cigarette butts, potentially reducing litter and engaging the public in cleanup efforts.
Mandates accessible statewide infrastructure. Requiring at least one recycling facility per county ensures that the program is accessible to people across New York, not just in urban or densely populated areas, which could improve participation and environmental impact statewide.
Targets environmental and public health harms. The bill not only aims to reduce tobacco-related litter (a significant source of plastic pollution and toxins) but also mandates public education about the environmental dangers of discarded cigarette butts, which may shift behaviors and attitudes over time.
Involves tobacco industry accountability. By requiring cigarette manufacturers to include anti-litter messages on packaging and participate in public education efforts, the bill places some responsibility for waste reduction on the producers, not just consumers or local governments.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Recycle Cigarette Butts Statewide
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Recycle Cigarette Butts Statewide
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Michael DenDekker
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5165
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 10, 2017
Introduced by Sen. STAVISKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to developing a cigarette butts recycling program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 27-1019 of the environmental conservation law is renumbered section 27-1021 and a new section 27-1019 is added to read as follows: § 27-1019. Cigarette butt recycling and waste control.
1. The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of health shall develop and implement a program for the collection and recycling of cigarette butts.
2. Such program shall include but not be limited to:
a. Establishing a statewide system and redemption facilities for the collection of used cigarette butts via automated or non-automated recycling equipment to be situated locally, but not less than one facility per county;
b. Establishing a deposit and refund value for individual cigarette butts returned to collection facilities of not less than one cent per cigarette butt returned and establish a fiscal plan allocating how deposit funds are collected and refunded; and
c. Establishing a public education and marketing campaign to educate individuals as to the harm cigarette butts cause to the environment and working with cigarette manufacturers to implement anti-litter messages on their packaging.
3. The commissioner shall have the authority to promulgate any rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this program.
4. For the purposes of this section "cigarette butt" or "used cigarette butt" shall mean any cigarette, cigar, or tobacco product with a
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08445-01-7
S. 5165 2
filter or butt that is not smoked and has the possibility of becoming a waste product.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to developing a cigarette butts recycling program
Purpose or general idea of bill
To require a program for the collection and recycling of cigarette butts.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 27-1019 of the environmental conservation law is renumbered section 27-1021 and a new section 27-1019 is added to direct the commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of health to develop and implement a program for the collection and recycling of cigarette butts, including a deposit and refund value for each individual cigarette of not less than a penny each. A fiscal plan must be established allocating how deposited funds are collected and refunded. A statewide system for redemption must be established as well as a public education and marketing campaign to educate the public as to the harm cigarette butts cause to the environment.
Justification
According to sources there are over 176,000,000 pounds of discarded cigarette butts in the United States each year. Keep America Beautiful states that 38 percent of roadside litter derives from cigarettes and that 65 percent of smokers litter cigarette butts. Cigarette filters are composed of a bundle of 12,000 plastic like cellulose acetate fibers. Each cigarette butt can take up to 10 years to biodegrade. There are many ways to recycle cigarette butts. By creating a program for the collection and recycling of cigarette butts we can create new industries and jobs and while saving millions in cleaning and disposal cost,
Prior legislative history
This legislation was previously introduced.
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.