What's happening
The NY Plastic Free Act bans the sale and distribution of most single-use plastic products, with limited exceptions.
Why it matters
Broad Scope of Ban. The act targets a wide range of single-use plastic items—including bags, food packaging, bottles, straws, cutlery, foam containers, and even products yet to be identified—potentially reshaping consumer habits, packaging industries, and retail operations across New York.
Environmental Impact. By restricting the sale and distribution of these plastics, the law aims to reduce plastic pollution, improve waste management, and lessen the environmental burden on landfills, waterways, and public spaces.
Exceptions Reflect Practical Needs. Limited exemptions for people with medical needs (e.g., straws), garbage bags, and medical equipment balance environmental goals with essential health and sanitation requirements, signaling a focus on practicality as well as sustainability.
Regulatory Flexibility. The Department of Environmental Conservation is empowered to expand the list of banned products in the future, allowing the law to adapt to emerging plastics and technologies—ensuring long-term effectiveness as material use evolves.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Single-Use Plastics
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to rules
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6750
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
September 25, 2019
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to enacting the "NY plastic free act"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "NY plastic free act".
§ 2. Article 27 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new title 30 to read as follows:
TITLE 30
NY PLASTIC FREE ACT Section 27-3001. Definition.
27-3003. Single-use plastic products prohibited. § 27-3001. Definition.
For the purposes of this title, "single-use plastic products" shall include:
1. plastic bags;
2. cling film plastic food packaging;
3. non-recyclable plastic bottles;
4. plastic straws;
5. plastic plates, non-reusable plastic containers, plastic cups, plastic lids, and plastic stirrers;
6. plastic cutlery;
7. plastic rings used in packaging;
8. styrofoam plates, styrofoam take-away containers and styrofoam trays; and
9. any other single-use plastic products determined to be included by the department. § 27-3003. Single-use plastic products prohibited.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13839-02-9
S. 6750 2
1. No person, firm, partnership, association, limited liability company or corporation shall sell or offer for sale or provide to any person in the state any single-use plastic products.
2. This section shall not apply to:
(a) the purchase of plastic straws for a person requiring such straws due to a medical condition;
(b) the purchase of single-use plastic bags for garbage collection; and
(c) single-use plastic medical equipment.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
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 enacting the "NY plastic free act"
Purpose
To ban the purchase of certain single-use plastics by all agencies and departments, which are fully or, partially funded by the state of New York.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 - Establishes the "Environmentally Conscious Purchasing Act"
Section 2 - Amends the state finance law to ban all agencies and depart- ments, which receive full or partial state funding to purchase certain single-use plastic products.
Section 3 - Contains the effective date.
Justification
This legislation is being proposed to ensure that New York State's taxpayer dollars are not being put towards environmentally irresponsible products. There are a plethora of negative effects of these single-use plastic products. Almost half of all plastics ever produced, have been made in the last fifteen years. Moreover, about 8 million tons of plas- tic waste ends up in the ocean.
In addition, the fact that these products in most cases cannot be recy- cled means that they will pollute our lands and water, negatively affect marine life, and contribute to the growing issue of micro-plastics. That is why there is a dire need for our state to action by the power of its purse and not buy any new single-use plastics.
Legislative history
New legislation.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE; DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately after it has become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.