Guest Column: How to fight plastic pollution in New York

Some of the 250 climate activists advocating in Albany for curbs on plastic pollution in New York state.

Harmony Dixon and Grace Gilmore of Bedford 2030 Communications Team in Albany.

By Harmony Dixon

Adults consume the equivalent of between three and 12 plastic bags per year, according to the Environmental Working Group. Plastic production has gotten out of control, entering our bodies, endangering our health, and contributing massively to climate change.

That’s why last week, Bedford 2030’s Communications Team — Harmony Dixon and Grace Gilmore — joined more than 250 New York climate activists in Albany to advocate against the overproduction of plastic packaging. We spent the day meeting with legislators and their staffers to push for two critical pieces of legislation: the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act and the Bigger Better Bottle Bill. We were delighted to connect with other climate-conscious members of our local community in Albany.

However, we weren’t alone. Big Plastic caught wind of our advocacy day and crashed the party. The Plastics Industry Association, representing corporations like ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Unilever, flew its lobbyists to the New York state capitol to turn legislators against the PRRIA and the BBBB. These lobbyists aim to convince our representatives that plastic packaging isn’t a problem — according to a 2024 Siena poll, 82 percent of New Yorkers would disagree. The cost of lobbying is worth it to Big Plastic because increasing plastic production is Big Oil’s “Plan B” as we reduce our use of oil and gas in our buildings and vehicles.

If we want our representatives to represent us, we must show up. Here’s a peek inside the climate-positive legislation we advocated for:

The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act would require packaging manufacturers to:

— Reduce the packaging they produce by 30 percent in 12 years.

— Design future packaging to be truly reusable or recyclable.

— Ban the most toxic chemicals currently used in packaging.

— Pay to clean up their packaging waste by reimbursing municipalities and taxpayers for collecting and processing those materials (currently, taxpayers foot 100 percent of the bill for plastic cleanup).

— Prohibit so-called “chemical recycling” from counting as recycling. (aka “advanced recycling,” this strategy is similar to incineration, which is dangerous for the environment, human health, and climate justice.)

The Bigger Better Bottle Bill would amend existing environmental conservation law to:

— Incentivize widespread recycling of beverage containers, reduce waste, and increase New York’s bottle redemption rate from 64 percent to 90 percent.

— Expand the existing returnable consumer deposit program to include more types of containers.

— Raise the deposit refund value from 5 cents to 10 cents.

— Give a much-deserved raise to the more than 10,000 vulnerable workers in the state who earn their income by collecting and redeeming containers.

— Use funds from unredeemed deposits to support the expansion of state recycling programs.

The plastic lobbyists’ misinformation campaign is relentless; legislators and their staffers are swamped with meetings and messaging from highly paid Big Plastic influencers. But the staffers’ job is to listen to us, their constituents, and relay our desires to our representatives. They rely on us to educate them because, in shocking news, legislators often don’t read or research the bills they sign. If we’re not showing up with our stories, facts, and science, they’re susceptible to an inundation of Big Plastic’s propaganda.

Our team of activists brought diverse stories to share with legislators; Bedford 2030 was particularly lucky to be partnered with activists from the Brooklyn-based organization Sure We Can. “Canners” are the underappreciated heroes of our cities. They rescue recyclable containers from the waste stream and ensure they make it to recycling centers. By having Canners at the Advocacy Day, legislators heard directly from those most impacted by the Bigger Better Bottle Bill. For plastic industry lobbyists, denying the BBBB is about keeping money in plastic manufacturers’ pockets. For the Canners, it’s about their livelihoods, families, and futures. It’s important to remind legislators who they really work for: the Canners. Their constituents. Us.

Our biggest hurdle will be passing the PRRIA and BBBB in the state Senate (again) and the Assembly. We must urge our legislators to sign on as cosponsors and bring this legislation to the Speaker of the Assembly Carl Heastie, and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. They will then bring PRRIA and the BBBB to a vote in the Assembly and Senate, respectively. Once passed in both chambers, legislation is sent to the governor’s desk to become law.

Making your voice heard is far less intimidating than we imagined. We encourage you to visit Albany, show up, and speak to your representatives. Calls, emails, and written letters make a huge impact, too. Contact your district’s legislator, Speaker Heastie, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Legislative action is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s a habit you build, a muscle you strengthen. Commit to speaking with your legislators regularly — once a week, take five minutes to amplify your voice. It isn’t hard, but it makes a big difference.

Last Tuesday, the president and CEO of the Plastics Industry Association posted a picture of himself shaking hands with Gov. Hochul. We can guess what was said in their conversation (“chemical recycling” is a great solution), and we know it isn’t true. Our legislators need to hear from us, and we have no time to waste — the climate and our community cannot wait.

For more information on advocating against plastic packaging, visit beyondplastics.org and follow Bedford 2030 to receive free resources to help you become a local climate hero in action at bedford2030.org.

Harmony Dixon is the Communications & Outreach Manager of Bedford 2030