What's happening
This bill requires plastic trash bags sold in New York to contain at least 30% recycled post-consumer material and be properly labeled.
Why it matters
Encourages recycling markets. by mandating that plastic trash bags use a significant portion (30%) of recycled post-consumer material, which could boost demand for recycled plastics and support local recycling infrastructure.
Increases transparency and accountability. through labeling requirements, letting consumers see exactly how much recycled content is in each package and helping regulators enforce the law.
Holds both manufacturers and retailers responsible. for compliance, but protects retailers from penalties if they rely in good faith on manufacturer-supplied labels, aiming to target violations at the source of production.
Allows for stricter future standards. by giving the environmental agency the authority to increase the minimum recycled content, enabling adaptation to advances in recycling technology and market conditions.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Recycled Plastic Trash Bags
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
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.
Require Recycled Plastic Trash Bags
In Senate Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Jen Metzger
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8878
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
December 18, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. FAHY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the sale of plastic trash bags
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Article 27 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new title 30 to read as follows:
TITLE 30
REGULATION OF PLASTIC TRASH BAGS Section 27-3001. Definitions.
27-3003. Regulation of the sale of plastic trash bags.
27-3005. Labeling requirements.
27-3007. Violations.
27-3009. Regulations. § 27-3001. Definitions.
As used in this title:
1. "Manufacturer" shall mean any person, firm, association, partnership, or corporation, which makes plastic trash bags to be used in the disposal of waste.
2. "Plastic trash bag" shall mean a bag intended to hold, store, or transport materials meant to be discarded, composted, or recycled, including but not limited to garbage bags, composting bags, yard bags, can-liners, and recycling bags.
3. "Post-consumer material" shall mean those products or materials generated by a business or consumer which have served their intended end use as consumer items and which have been separated or diverted from the waste stream for the purposes of collection and recycling as a secondary material feedstock.
4. "Retailer" shall mean any person, firm or corporation that engages in the sale of plastic trash bags.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14033-01-9
A. 8878 2
§ 27-3003. Regulation of the sale of plastic trash bags.
Every plastic trash bag offered for sale or sold by a retailer in this state shall contain, by weight, at least thirty percent recycled postconsumer material. The department may promulgate rules and regulations requiring a higher percentage of post-consumer material content for plastic trash bags. § 27-3005. Labeling requirements.
Every package of plastic trash bags sold in this state shall be labeled by the manufacturer indicating the post-consumer material content of the plastic trash bags by weight. § 27-3007. Violations.
1. Any retailer found to be in violation of this title shall receive a warning notice for the first violation. Any retailer found to subsequently be in violation of this title shall be subject to a penalty of five hundred dollars per violation.
2. Any manufacturer found in violation of this title shall be subject to a penalty of five hundred dollars per violation.
3. No retailer shall be found in violation of this title if such retailer in good faith relies on the label as required by section 27-3005 of this title. § 27-3009. Regulations.
The department is authorized to promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this title.
§ 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2022.
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.