Packaging NewsExtended Producer Responsibility (EPR)Sustainable Packaging

AMERIPEN Engages on EPR Legislation at New York Fly-In

AMERIPEN members gathered outside the New York statehouse in Albany, NY. — AMERIPEN members gathered outside the New York statehouse in Albany, New York. (Courtesy of AMERIPEN)

AMERIPEN co-led a high-impact advocacy ﬂy-in to engage with legislators on the Affordable Waste Reduction Act (S.5062/A.6191), a packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) bill introduced by New York State Senator Monica Martinez and Assemblymember Chantel Jackson. The fly-in took place May 6-7.

“The bill represents a demanding yet consistent and balanced approach to reducing packaging waste and improving recycling outcomes across New York State,” AMERIPEN said in a statement.

The ﬂy-in brought together representatives from more than 20 member companies and industry associations from across the packaging value chain, demonstrating strong and uniﬁed industry support for EPR legislation grounded in national best practices.

“In contrast to the overly prescriptive and unfeasible proposal by Senator Peter Harckham and Assemblymember Deborah Glick (S.1464/A.1749), the Martinez-Jackson bill offers a data-driven, innovation-friendly framework modeled after legislation from Minnesota and Maryland,” AMERIPEN said in a statement. “The legislation in Minnesota and Maryland garnered strong support and endorsements from across the environmental community and much of industry and reﬂects forward thinking trends and provisions established by recent stakeholder conversations surrounding EPR.”

Lynn Dyer, Executive Director of AMERIPEN, said, “The Affordable Waste Reduction Act is a practical, collaborative framework for EPR in New York. We were proud to advocate for an EPR model that builds on effective recycling policy.”

Consistent with Minnesota’s 2024 packaging EPR law, the Martinez-Jackson bill supports a shared responsibility model that:

Maintains material- and technology-neutral policies to foster innovation
Empowers Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) led by industry experts
Ensures transparency and oversight through an advisory council and public input
Establishes realistic performance targets and a phased implementation timeline
Balances funding, with producers covering ~90% of system costs while municipalities and waste processors retain a role in system effectiveness

“New York has the opportunity to implement a model that reﬂects what’s widely accepted and supported across the country,” Dyer added. “The Harckham-Glick bill, by contrast, imposes packaging bans, rigid mandates, jeopardizes recycling innovation, and would place excessive ﬁnancial strain on both producers and consumers.”

AMERIPEN continues to strongly oppose the Harckham-Glick proposal, citing its unrealistic timelines, lack of alignment with proven EPR principles, and failure to consider lessons learned from other states. Instead, the organization urges lawmakers to prioritize legislation that is effective, equitable, and enforceable.

AMERIPEN will continue engaging with policymakers, regulators, and industry partners to promote smart packaging policy solutions that reﬂect both environmental priorities and operational realities.

For more information about AMERIPEN and its advocacy efforts, visit www.ameripen.org.