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Senator Harckham and Assemblymember Glick’s Packaging Reduction Bill Advances in Both Houses

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Albany, NY – New York State Senator Pete Harckham announced today that the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA) has successfully advanced through the Senate’s Environmental Conservation Committee, which he chairs.

Solid waste, which has been rising steadily over the years, presents a serious challenge for New York’s environment and the health of New Yorkers, as well as a burden on taxpayers. New York State’s 25 municipal solid waste landfills could be full within the next 15 years, according to the NYS Solid Waste Management Plan. Incineration of waste creates air quality issues and increases greenhouse gas emissions. Further, municipalities bear the burden of collecting, sorting, and processing waste, driving up costs for taxpayers.

PRRIA (S.1464/A.1749) aims to significantly reduce packaging waste by requiring companies to reduce overall packaging use, improve recyclability, fund recycling infrastructure, support municipal recycling programs, and eliminate toxins in packaging materials. The legislation has broad approval from New Yorkers according to public polling.

Producers with annual net revenues over $5 million and those responsible for more than two tons of annual packaging waste would be required to reduce their packaging by 10% within three years and 30% within 12 years. PRRIA sets post-consumer recycled content standards for packaging: within two years, glass packaging must contain 35% recycled material, paper bags 40%, and plastic bags 20%.

The bill’s advancement comes one week after Assemblymember Deborah Glick, Assembly sponsor of the legislation and Chair of the Assembly’s Environmental Conservation Committee, advanced it out of her committee. Harckham and Glick have been working on PRRIA for the previous two years. The bill successfully passed the Senate on the final day of session in 2024.

“This is a crucial step toward addressing the growing environmental challenges posed by waste and plastic pollution,” said Harckham. “This legislation represents the strongest Extended Producer Responsibility framework in the nation. It will reduce waste, plastics, and toxins, contributing significantly to a cleaner, more sustainable environment. While there’s still much work ahead to pass the bill through both houses, today’s progress is a critical step forward for our communities and our environment. I look forward to continuing our efforts with my colleagues and the many advocates who have championed this cause.”

“Last session, we ran out of time to pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act in both houses,” said Glick. “This early forward momentum of the bill is good news for the municipalities and New Yorkers who have been overburdened with the rising cost of the disposal of toxic packaging from producers. This bill has clear solutions to address the looming solid waste and plastic pollution crisis that will help achieve our climate goals while making our environment safer for all of us. PRRIA cannot be delayed any longer, municipalities deserve relief, and New Yorkers deserve a safe and clean environment.”

Judith Enck, President of Beyond Plastics said,“Nobody voted for more plastic, yet taxpayers are forced to spend hundreds of millions every year just to deal with all of the waste — and the cancer, heart disease, and respiratory and reproductive issues associated with it. We thank Senate Environmental Committee Chair Pete Harckham and Assembly Environmental Committee Chair Deborah Glick for moving their visionary bill through committee, and for bringing New York state one step closer to addressing our growing plastic pollution problem. Now we need this bill to come to the floor in both houses for a vote. Plastic polluters should be on the hook for the mess they’re making,”

Adreinne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment said, “The Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act represents a pivotal step in addressing our state’s growing solid waste crisis. For the first time, corporations will be held accountable for the waste they generate. Municipalities and taxpayers have borne the financial burden of dealing with packaging waste and non-recyclable materials for far too long. Once enacted, the PRRIA will significantly reduce packaging waste, promote more sustainable designs, and make recycling easier and less harmful. This landmark legislation will boost recycling rates, while saving local governments and taxpayers millions of dollars annually. Simply put, we could not afford to wait any longer. CCE applauds Senator Harckham and Assemblymember Glick for their exceptional leadership, and we look forward to continuing to work with them to ensure this bill’s successful passage.”

Stephen J. Acquario, Executive Director of the NYS Association of Counties (NYSAC) said, “As global commodity markets have collapsed and the costs of waste collection and processing have risen, local governments have been burdened by an outdated system overwhelmed with non-recyclable materials. This legislation will address those challenges by requiring producers to manage the end-of-life recycling of their packaging, improving recycling rates, reducing contamination, and saving taxpayers money. Moreover, by banning toxic substances like PFAS and lead in packaging, it will safeguard the health and safety of all New Yorkers. We commend Senator Harckham and Assemblymember Glick for advancing this bill through committee and urge the Senate and Assembly to pass the PRRIA before the close of the 2025 Legislative Session to provide much-needed relief to local governments and protect our environment.”

Pat McClellan, Director of Policy for the New York League of Conservation Voters said, “To achieve our goal of zero waste, New York State must adopt policies to create a circular economy that prioritizes recycled and recyclable materials and incentivizes the use of less packaging in the first place, and that is exactly what the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act does. We applaud Senator Harckham and Assemblymember Glick for the commitment to zero waste and for advancing this measure out of committee, and we now urge the full Senate and Assembly to swiftly take up the legislation.”

Alexandra Grose, Senior Policy Counsel at Consumer Reports said, “Currently, consumers are subsidizing the collection, recycling, and disposal of an ever growing stream of plastic packaging through municipal taxes. This bill would shift the financial burden from taxpayers to large companies that are producing this plastic packaging in the first place. These companies should be responsible for improving our overburdened recycling systems. The bill also encourages manufacturers to eliminate known toxic chemicals in packaging, resulting in fewer health hazards introduced into our food and environment. We will continue to support Senator Harckham and Assemblymember Glick as they work to pass this legislation which will improve the health of New Yorkers and hold plastic producers accountable.”

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Creating a More Inclusive Rockland – One Business at a Time By Rockland County Executive Ed Day

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To our business leaders, healthcare providers, first responders, and community organizations that make Rockland County the vibrant place it is, I want to bring your attention to a new and FREE training that will create a more inclusive Rockland one business at a time.

Here in the United States, 1 in 36 children is diagnosed with Autism. And yet, many of our public spaces, businesses, and institutions remain unfamiliar with how to support them.
That needs to change—and here in Rockland, we’re leading that change.

It was with that in mind that in April, during Autism Acceptance and Awareness Month, my administration’s Department of Mental Health launched a new All-Abilities Training Program, created in partnership with the Anderson Center for Autism.
This training is available at no cost and is designed to educate the workforce, including our local businesses, healthcare providers, first responders, and community organizations. It’s a powerful tool to help you better serve all members of our community, especially those with Autism and intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD).

This initiative is more than just training—it’s a commitment to understanding, acceptance, and accessibility for individuals with Autism and other developmental disabilities.

When we launched the Rockland Thinks Differently initiative in 2024, we committed ourselves to promoting inclusion at every level of our community. This training is a direct extension of that promise. It will help your team create more welcoming environments for all.

But this isn’t just about doing the right thing, it’s also smart business.

Many individuals with Autism are loyal, capable, and hardworking.

The training includes insight into how to make your workplace more accessible for potential employees with Autism and the many benefits of hiring from this often-overlooked talent pool.

I urge every business and organization in Rockland to take advantage of this fantastic and free opportunity. Doing so will show the community that your organization not only accepts differences but embraces and celebrates them. Let’s work together and continue creating a Rockland that truly thinks differently.

To sign up for the training or learn more, please contact the Anderson Center at 845-889-9616 or ACCT@AndersonCares.org.

* This is a weekly column by Rockland County Executive Ed Day.

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Senator Bill Weber Honors the Late Clarkstown Councilman Mark Woods Jr. with Induction into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame

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ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY – This week, State Senator Bill Weber posthumously inducted Town of Clarkstown Councilman Mark Woods Jr. into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame in a ceremony held at the State Capitol.

Mark’s beloved wife, Jeanne, his daughter, Maggie, his son, Ray, and his mother, Marie, joined the ceremony to accept the award on Mark’s behalf.

A Brooklyn native, Woods was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry after attending The Citadel. He served in Berlin at the end of the Cold War and deployed to Bosnia for peacekeeping operations. His civilian career included service as a corrections officer, border agent, and NYPD officer, where he was part of the Vice Squad and the Joint Terrorism Task Force. He returned to active duty in Iraq post-9/11 before continuing his public service stateside.

Woods later became Deputy Director of the Rockland County Veterans Service Agency and then Director of the Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Program at BRIDGES, where he supported fellow veterans through mental health and crisis recovery work. His advocacy and compassion touched countless lives.

“Mark Woods Jr. exemplified the spirit of selfless service,” said Senator Weber. “His dedication to his country, his community, and especially to his fellow veterans, was unparalleled. This induction ensures that his legacy of compassion, leadership, and service will be remembered and honored for generations to come.”

“I can think of no one more deserving at this moment. Mark Woods is the purest example of a serviceman dedicated to his country and his community. He was humble, passionate and undeniably committed to seeing our community be better. I can’t think of a better way to pay tribute to a selfless man like Mark Woods and his enduring legacy than his induction to the NYS Veterans Hall of Fame.” said Carlos Martinez, LMSW, CEO and Executive Director of BRIDGES

Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann, a good friend of Mark Woods added, “I am proud to help honor the life and legacy of Mark Woods. From his service in the U.S. Army to the streets of NYC as an NYPD officer, to his compassionate work with our veterans and as Town Councilman, his unwavering commitment to helping others will always be an inspiration. Clarkstown and New York State will never forget his lifetime of service.”

The New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame honors the courage, sacrifice, and service of veterans who enrich their communities long after leaving active duty. Mark Woods Jr. stands among the finest examples of that enduring legacy.

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