Climate Protesters March on New York, Calling for End to Fossil Fuels
Ahead of U.N. meetings this week, thousands gathered in Midtown to demand that President Biden and other world leaders stop new oil and gas drilling.
Environmental Groups Oppose Tax Breaks for Proposed Lockport Plastic Factory
More than 60 organizations signed onto a letter this week urging the Lockport Industrial Development Agency not to give SRI CV Plastics $500,000 in tax abatements. Among them are the Clean Air Coalition of Western New York, the New York Public Interest Research Group and Beyond Plastic, a nationwide organization with the goal of ending plastic pollution.
Indian Plastics Manufacturer Seeks First U.S. Operation in Lockport
An Indian plastics manufacturer that makes pipes and food packaging wants to set up its first U.S. production facility in the Town of Lockport, in the same business park where an affiliated wind-turbine also wants to start production.
New York Packaging Reduction Bill Faces Ticking Clock
New York’s long-debated and many-times-revised Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act is the center focus again, with days left to move to the Senate and Assembly before the legislative session ends. Proponents say the legislation would address an out-of-control waste problem while providing economic payoffs.
13,000 Petition Signatures Delivered to New York Capitol Urging Passage of Packaging Reduction Bill
In her post-EPA life, Judith Enck has made limiting the production and use of a plastic her life’s work. Her mission before the end of Albany’s legislative session is passage of an extended producer recycling bill, the “Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act," sponsored by the chairs of the Environmental Conservation Committees in both houses — state Assemblymember Deborah Glick and Sen. Pete Harckham.
Sick of All the Plastic in Your Life? A Proposed New York Bill Would Reduce It — And It Has a Shot
Advocates say polls show that the public is on their side. They delivered a petition including 13,000 e-signatures to the Assembly and Senate leadership offices. Lawmakers were off for the long holiday weekend before resuming session Tuesday for a two-week sprint to adjournment. With just seven working days left of the official 2023 legislative session, advocates for a measure that would reduce plastic packaging by half say their bill is gaining momentum.
Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act Proposed to NYS Legislature
The current New York State legislative session is scheduled to adjourn around June 9. A proposed Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (assembly bill 5322 and senate bill 4246) may be voted on before the close of the session. The act would require plastic packaging to be reduced by half, reduce toxics in packaging and prohibit plastic burning.
3M, Green Groups Push Back on Hochul’s NY Waste Reduction Bill
New York business groups and environmental advocates are pushing back on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plan to require businesses like Amazon.com Inc., 3M Co., and Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. to reduce and pay for the disposal of paper and packaging products. Environmentalists say the plan doesn’t go far enough, and the complex issue should be handled outside of the state budget process.
Advocates Call for a 50% Reduction in Excess Packaging
Advocates for plastic waste reduction and an expanded bottle bill rallied at the Capitol Wednesday for the state to reduce excess packaging on retail items by 50% by 2033. They say a plan by Governor Kathy Hochul to reduce packaging falls short.
IC Says Thanks, Others No Thanks for New Turf Field
Ever since Ithaca College’s football field was first installed in 1958, it has been home to many games full of excited football fans. After being named the Jim Butterfield Stadium in 1992, the field has since undergone many renovations and changes over the years. The most recent decision to replace the field’s natural grass with artificial turf has led to many environmental concerns from local activist groups.
New York Banned Plastic Bags Two Years Ago. Why Are They Still Everywhere?
Once ubiquitous, they’re now nowhere to be seen. Or at least, that’s what was supposed to happen when New York banned plastic bags for most uses in 2020. Yet two years later, many New York City supermarkets — not to mention smaller markets and bodegas — continue to distribute plastic bags as they always have.
To Avoid A Plastic Future, New York Must Update The Bottle Bill | Opinion
USA Today | January 7, 2022 | State lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul can take action to modernize New York’s successful beverage container deposit law, known as the Bottle Bill, which turns 40 next year.
New York City Banned Foam Containers. Now The Rest Of The State Will, Too.
Three years ago, New York City banned single-use food containers and packing peanuts made out of polystyrene foam. Some suburban counties like Westchester and Nassau soon followed. Now, the rest of the state is going to give it a try.
Scraping a living
On a Brooklyn street, Laurentino Marin doesn’t stop to admire the Halloween decorations. Like every morning, the Mexican is busy filling a shopping cart with used cans and plastic bottles, which he will exchange for a few dollars. Marin, who is 80, is one of New York’s estimated 10,000 “canners”, mostly older migrants from Latin America and China who scrape a living sorting and recycling plastics and aluminium.
Beyond Plastic's Judith Enck and NYU BioEthicist Dr Arthur Caplan Episode 448
Daily podcast with guest Judith Enck, Beyond Plastics
New York debates what really is, or isn't, recyclable
Lawmakers worry that state bureaucracy is easing off policing recycling claims.
Plastic Bag Ban Violators Getting Away with Breaking Law as Enforcers Check Out
State regulators charged with overseeing the ban on single-use plastic shopping bags are overwhelmed by complaints, with more than 300 reported violators yet to be checked on, data obtained by THE CITY shows.
A year into ban, plastic bags still an issue
It’s been just about a year since lawmakers banned reusable plastic bags, but the battle continues.
DEC bungled plastic bag ban so badly state must pay plaintiffs' court costs, judge rules
New York’s rollout of its plastic bag ban last year was so muddled and confusing that a judge awarded court fees to the plaintiffs who had sued over the prohibition.
Activists Raise Concerns About Proposed Amendments To Coeymans Clean Air Law
Activists are sounding an alarm after the Coeymans Town Board proposed amendments to the 2019 Coeymans Clean Air Law which limits tire-burning at the Lafarge/Holcim Cement Plant, which is situated across the street from the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School on Route 9W.