Report: New York could save $1.3B by cutting packaging waste

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — The environmental advocacy group Beyond Plastics released an analysis on a proposed state law to cut packaging waste on Wednesday. According to the report, enacting the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act could save New Yorkers $1.3 billion over the next 10 years.

The report—available to read at the bottom of this story—tallies the potential savings from lowering collection and disposal costs if the PRRIA takes effect. The bill, S1464/A1749 reduces packaging waste while increasing recycling, forcing producers to cut plastic, use more recycled material, and ban toxic chemicals to mitigate rising costs, old incinerators, and overflowing landfills.

The analysis shows that PRRIA—introduced by Democratic Assemblymember Deborah Glick and Democratic State Senator Pete Harckham—would shift waste management costs from local governments and taxpayers to the companies that sell packaged products. It's supposed to cut packaging waste by 30% and increase the rate of recycling.

In 2025, New York state will produce almost 3.8 million tons of packaging waste—about the weight of 10 Empire State Buildings, according to the report. It estimated an annual “avoided cost” savings from sending less trash to landfills and incinerators. All told, New York would save $109 million in 2030, $287 million in 2036, $445 million in 2040, and $830 million in 2052.

In New York City alone, the report projects that 1.5 million tons of PRRIA-covered packaging will be generated, of which about 1.2 million tons will go to landfills or incinerators. According to the report, New York City would save $818 million over the next decade, while local governments statewide would save about $568 million altogether under the new statutes.

The following data came from the analysis, titled, "Projected Economic Benefits of the New York Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act":

Counties	10-year savings in millions
Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx	$818
Nassau and Suffolk	$142
Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester	$103
Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara, and Wyoming	$50
Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Tioga, and Tompkins	$46
Chemung, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, and Yates	$46
Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Schenectady, and Schoharie	$33
Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington	$17
Lewis, Oneida, and St. Lawrence	$10

If the PRRIA makes it through the legislature to get signed by Governor Kathy Hochul, the report also argued that recycling rates will significantly improve. Today, only 18% of packaging waste gets recycled. But under new targets in the bill, the rate would rise to 28% by 2035 and 44% by 2040. Recyclers will process an extra half a million tons of material in 2040, while traditional disposal sites would handle 2 million tons less of trash.

In 2024, the PRRIA passed in the State Senate but never advanced in the Assembly. Senator Harckham carried the bill last year and reintroduced it in January.

"What this report quantifies are real dollar savings to taxpayers. Taxpayers have been footing the bill for too long," Harckham said on Wednesday. "What extended producer responsibility laws do—and they're nothing new to New York; we have extended producer responsibility for paint, for electronics, for carpet, and now this is an extended producer responsibility bill for packaging—rather than putting the cost for single-use plastic and disposable packaging on the [backs] of taxpayers and consumers, it now puts the cost back on [companies] and the reduction of that waste: $1.3 billion."

The bill would require producers to join certified nonprofit groups that run recycling programs, share clear plans for cutting packaging waste, and report annually on recycling rates and expenses. It would force each producer to lower the weight of packaging by 10% in three years, 15% in five years, 20% in eight years, 25% in ten years, and 30% in 12 years.

Companies would have to use more recycled material when manufacturing glass products, paper carryout bags, and plastic trash bags. Plus, the law would ban packaging with phthalates, bisphenols, PFAS, heavy metals, benzophenone, flame retardants, perchlorate, formaldehyde, toluene, antimony, UV 328, PVC, polystyrene, and polycarbonate.

The PRRIA would also create a task force to review packaging for toxic content and recommend further bans if necessary. It would also let state officials fine violators up to $10,000 per offense. The report does not include potential revenue from fines or fees that companies would have to pay.

Take a look at the report below: