New York lawmakers are divided over two competing plastic waste bills.

The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, supported by environmentalists, would enforce packaging cuts, ban toxic ingredients, and restrict chemical recycling. Meanwhile, the industry-backed Affordable Waste Reduction Act proposes looser regulations, avoiding such mandates. Chemical industry groups have heavily lobbied for their bill, including tours of a North Carolina recycling plant with a history of EPA violations. While sponsors deny industry influence, campaign finance records show strong chemical industry support. Plastic pollution remains a major environmental and health issue, with most plastic still ending up in landfills or oceans. Chemical recycling, touted by petrochemical firms, has yet to scale or meet standards. New York’s decision could set a national precedent, potentially driving stricter reforms or signaling a setback if industry lobbying prevails.  

03-06-2025