What's happening
This bill requires New York to create a statewide cigarette butt recycling program, including deposit refunds, collection sites, and public education.
Why it matters
Creates financial incentives for proper disposal. By establishing a deposit and refund system (at least one cent per cigarette butt), the bill encourages smokers to return cigarette butts rather than littering, potentially reducing environmental pollution and cleanup costs.
Ensures widespread accessibility. The requirement for at least one collection facility per county means the program would be statewide and accessible to both urban and rural residents, making it easier for people to participate regardless of where they live.
Promotes environmental awareness and corporate responsibility. The inclusion of a public education campaign and the mandate for anti-litter messages on cigarette packaging aim to change public attitudes and behaviors around cigarette waste, while also pushing manufacturers to take part in litter prevention.
Addresses a specific and persistent waste stream. By targeting cigarette butts, which are among the most common forms of litter and contain non-biodegradable materials, the bill tackles a significant environmental hazard that affects waterways, wildlife, and municipal waste systems.
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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
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3892
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 31, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. DenDEKKER -- read once and referred 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 filter or butt that is not smoked and has the possibility of becoming a waste product.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07833-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.