You may have lactose intolerance.
Individually wrapped cheese would largely be banned under a far-reaching bill being pushed by environmentalists and politicians in New York to reduce the use of plastic, The Post has learned.
The state bill, called the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, would require companies with more than $1 million in net income that sell or distribute food or other products to reduce the amount of plastic and other packaging that ends up in landfills and waterways by reducing the amount of plastic and other packaging that ends up in landfills and waterways. This mandates a 50% reduction annually.
It would also impose a fee on companies that use plastic packaging, with the money earmarked for recycling programs and infrastructure.
“This bill shifts recycling duties to local governments and helps product producers create sustainable packaging solutions that benefit us all,” said Sen. Peter Harckham (D-Peekskill). “We guarantee that,” he said in a memo promoting the bill.
Harkum, who introduced the measure with Rep. Deborah Glick (D-Manhattan), said the typical New Yorker produces nearly 5 pounds of trash every day, which is more than the state’s roughly 15 million tons of waste each year. This means that it is emitting
“This waste is primarily sent to landfills and incinerators, but in many cases it can end up in water bodies, natural habitats, and urban spaces,” the memo said.
Four states have similar programs: Maine, Oregon, Colorado, and California.
One prominent environmental activist supporting the bill acknowledged that the goal is to eliminate sliced cheese and other wasteful packaging wrapped in non-recyclable plastic.
“We have to do something about the plastic crisis,” said Judith Enck, president of the group Beyond Plastics.
Enck, who previously served as federal regional administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under President Barack Obama, said microplastic packaging in sliced cheese could be replaced with alternatives.
“There was a time in America when we didn’t put pieces of plastic between slices of cheese. You can replace plastic with paper,” she said.
He noted that it costs New York City $420 million a year to transport and dispose of trash to landfills and incinerators, and manufacturers should do their part.
“These companies must be held accountable for their waste output. They are currently getting free rides,” Enck said.
Other companies, such as Starbucks, are also voluntarily reducing their use of plastic.
But the war against plastic cheese wrap and similar packaging has sparked a fierce backlash from food manufacturers, supermarkets and the toy industry, which package food and products in vacuum-seal packaging for protection.
“Under this bill, New Yorkers can look forward to a future where they can buy unpackaged goods, from cereal to cheese to hot dogs, out of grocery store bins and take them home,” said Nelson Eusebio, the bill’s representative. ” he said. National Supermarket Association.
“There is no question that such a dramatic change in shopping habits will reduce the flow of packaging waste to landfills. There is a danger that all we have gained in terms of health benefits and packaging will be ignored. ”
He warned that the law could result in higher grocery bills.
“For grocery stores, this structural shift in how products are sold means more of the food we buy ends up in the trash rather than in consumers’ shopping bags, and since 2019, grocery store charges have increased. “It’s just a 25% increase in prices – faster than housing, health care and most other categories,” he said. “To make matters worse, many of the affected products are household staples available through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), hitting low-income people the hardest.”
Toy Association vice-chairman Owen Cain said plastic packaging prevents toys and popular dolls from breaking during transport and proper labeling to ensure safety.
“Removing current packaging tools without existing viable alternatives will simply increase costs and leave New Yorkers with defective products that cannot be verified as genuine or tested to ensure safety.” “You’re at risk of receiving the same amount of money,” Cain said. .
Anti-plastic packaging bills passed in the Senate and House Environment Committees. The bill will now be considered by the Senate Finance Committee and the Assembly Rules Committee.
