Extended Producer Responsibility Bill Must Be Stopped

May 9th, 2024

A statement from Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United

“With one month left to go Senate and Assembly leaders are fast-tracking a new version of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation, a measure that will increase consumer costs and ban some of the essential goods New Yorkers purchase daily. While the intentions of legislation to improve solid waste management and recycling in New York State are laudable, we cannot ignore that implementing this version of EPR will not result in taxpayer savings, instead, it will pass increased prices onto consumers.

“The most recent study from Canadian-based York University found that the current EPR legislation would result in $800 million in new costs passed directly to New York residents, with the potential of more than $3 billion impact on the New York State economy. Rural upstate communities would be especially impacted due to limited access to packaged foods, beverages, electronics, personal care items – the list goes on.

“Once again, we find ourselves left with a policy that leaves us with more questions and concerns than answers. What would the approval of this legislation mean for consumers? Will these products no longer be available or cost more due to whatever will serve as alternative packaging? We encourage legislators to seek stakeholder input and more workable proposals before advancing such an overly aggressive policy.”

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