TAKE ACTION on Policy
to stop
​PLASTIC POLLUTION
and for an
equitable zero waste future

New York State
**Urgent action needed to reduce
​plastic pollution, climate emissions, and toxic chemicals, and to give recycling a big boost.

 ☎️ Call Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins to urge them to bring the Act to pass the Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act ASAP this session. Get the phone numbers and a simple script here.>>

​💻  Email Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins to urge them to prioritize passage of the Packaging Reduction Act ASAP this session. Click here to email them now.>>

📌 Join allies in Albany, NY on February 27, 2024 for an in-person Advocacy Day and Rally Learn more and register now. >>

What IS THIS bill about?

The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (A5322-b/(S4246-b) would require companies to cut their single-use packaging in half and redesign what’s left to make it recyclable, as well as to remove toxic chemicals such as PFAS, benzene, toluene, phthalates, bisphenols, and heavy metals from their packaging.
And when their packaging is discarded, the companies would be required to pay to collect, sort, and manage what's left, providing much-needed taxpayer relief and funding for our recycling programs and infrastructure.

More from Beyond Plastics::
According to polling from Oceana, nearly nine in 10 New Yorkers support policies that reduce single-use plastic. The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S4246B Harckham/A5322AB Glick) will do just that by transforming the way our goods are packaged. It will dramatically reduce waste and ease the burden on taxpayers by making companies, not consumers, cover the cost of managing  packaging.

The bill will:
Reduce plastic packaging by 50% incrementally over 12 years;After 12 years, all plastic (and glass, paper, and metal, which typically already meet this standard) must be at least 70% recyclable;Prohibit the 15 worst toxic chemicals in packaging, including vinyl chloride, PFAS, and heavy metals;Not allow so-called chemical recycling to be considered real recycling;Establish a modest fee on packaging paid by packaging producers, with new revenue going to local taxpayers; and Establish a new Office of Inspector General to ensure proper compliance.

 The City of New York has officially backed the bill (see attached), and more than 200 organizations and businesses — including Beyond Plastics, Environmental Advocates,  NYPIRG, Earthjustice, Blueland, and DeliverZero Inc. — issued a memo of support (see attached). They write, “This bill would save tax dollars and position New York as a global leader in reducing plastic pollution.” 
​
 Under the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, not only would it cost less for taxpayers to get rid of waste, but local governments would also receive new revenue from packaging fees paid by producers. This would provide substantial revenue — New York City alone would receive at least $150 million to support recycling and waste disposal costs. 

​Why we need this legislation NOW!

Time is running out!​

• Our continuing use of plastic has resulted in a near-permanent
  contamination of our biosphere, including our own bodies.
• Each year, we produce over 500 million metric tons of plastic; most of which is single-use plastics (SUPs) like packaging and foodware.
• Most plastic ends up in landfills or “leaks” into the environment.

 

• Plastic threatens human health during production, use (chemical exposures) and after use (particle damage).
• Plastic, a non-biodegradable material, breaks into small
  particles: first, microplastics, particles smaller than 5 mm, then nanoplastics, microscopic particles smaller than 1 micrometer

       (more about plastic and health hazards ->)

• 40% of plastic production is to make single-use items that clog our landfills, pollute our air, water, and soil when burned in incinerators, or end up littering our environment.
• New York has 10 municipal waste incinerators, tied with Florida for the most incinerators in a state, producing hundreds of thousands of tons of air pollution and toxic ash each year.
• New York’s landfills have a maximum of just 25 years left of capacity.
• Each year, New York state sends nearly 5 million tons of its waste to other communities.
• New York City, alone, spends $429 million each year to export its waste to incinerators and landfills in other states or to the Finger Lakes in upstate NY.
• The producers of polluting packaging should foot the bill for recycling and disposal, not taxpayers.

Thank you to our friends at BeyondPlastics.org for this action alert.

GLOBAL PLASTICS TREATY

The world urgently needs an ambitious global treaty to protect the environment and human health and to end the plastic pollution crisis. But the US, Saudi Arabia and other big fossil fuel and plastics producers want to weaken the agreement. ("Administration seeks more relaxed approach on reducing plastics," Washington Post, May 30, 2023)
​On March 2, 2022,  175 nations agreed to develop the first ever legally binding agreement on plastic pollution by 2024, prompting a major step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production, use and disposal.  Read more (UNEP) 

US ACTION: Tell U.S. Government to Take a Stronger Stance on the Global Plastics Treaty
​(sign the petition)

GLOBAL ACTION: Tell World Leaders We Need a Strong Global Plastics Treaty 
(sign the petition)

Thank you to our friends at Plastic Pollution Coalition for these action alerts.

WATCH: Global Plastics Treaty explainer by The Story of Stuff Project. 

• Global Plastics Treaty explainer video; 
• Video with subtitles here:; subtitles in Arabic, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swahili

NYC #plasticfree climate action
SIGN THE PETITION ->  
​for weekly Plastic Free Lunch Days
in NYC school cafeterias!

 NYC VICTORY!
NYC Council passes
Skip The Stuff bill  Int 559

The Skip The Stuff bill will prohibit takeout and delivery services
from providing plastic utensils, condiments, or napkins
unless explicitly requested by the customer.
This bill is a money saver for restaurants 
& will reduce single-use plastic pollution that contaminates
our air, water, soil and bodies and worsens our climate!

PS 188 The Island School 5th graders from Cafeteria Culture's program,
testify in support of the Skip The Stuff bill!​

Skip the Stuff Bill Testimony by PS 188 5th graders from Cafeteria Culture on Vimeo.

Start a #SkipTheStuff campaign at school, work, and in your community!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cafeteria Culture (@cafcu)

Plastic pollution could be slashed by 80% by 2040, UN says
The Guardian, May 16, 2023
"The changes needed are major, but are also practical and affordable, the agency said.
The first step is to eliminate unnecessary plastics, such as excessive packaging, the report said.

"The way we produce, use and dispose of plastics is polluting ecosystems,
creating risks for human health and destabilising the climate."
--- Inger Andersen, United Nations  Environment Program (UNEP), Executive Director.
​Take Action!

Start at school!
Join us for 
PLASTIC FREE LUNCH DAY(s)
Keep the action going!

​Start at home or work

Recipe for 
#plasticfree 
​Change
starting with a home waste audit!

​EASY US ACTION:

​Support the
Break Free From
Plastic Pollution Act

Send a letter to your
Member of Congress
and US Senators ->

​

Sign the student petition:  
​Plastic Free Lunch Day every day! 
​

Getting push-back from decision makers about the switch
to reusables and refillable systems?
Use our new 
​Resource Library 

U.S. PLASTIC-FREE POLICY ACTION!

Reduce PLASTIC Waste
​in National Parks Act
70,000 citizens already petitioned The Department of Interior
to end the sale & distribution of single-use plastics in National Parks.
add your name to the petition ->

Learn More

On World Oceans Day (june 8, 2022), Interior Secretary Deb Haaland issued Secretarial Order 3407 to phase out single-use plastics across the entire Department of the Interior (DOI) over a 10-year period.  This  will phase out the procurement, sale, and distribution of single-use plastic products and packaging across the U.S. Department of the Interior lands and offices by 2032, which includes the National Park Service.

While this is an important step forward, the Department can and must do more to accelerate the reduction of harmful plastics pollutants.

​From our friends at Oceana.org and Break Free From Plastic

Specific actions that can accelerate this urgently needed change, include:

• prohibit single-use plastics in all new contracts with consideration to abilities or restrictions that require the use of certain single-use plastic items;
• stop the procurement of expanded polystyrene products;
• Renegotiate existing contracts with concessionaires that use single-use plastic;
• Include drinking refill stations and access to clean water in all new facilities and facility renovations;
• implement a plan to reduce single-use plastic in the Department of the Interior’s Washington, D.C., offices and event spaces, asap, to serve as a model for all federal government agencies.

 
Urge the department to prioritize eliminating the procurement, sale, and distribution of single-use plastics in all 423 national parks and leverage government purchasing power to shift suppliers and manufacturers toward viable alternatives.

After a 2011 Obama administration policy went into effect, 23 national parks banned the sale of single-use plastic water bottles, eliminating between 1.3 and 2 million disposable plastic water bottles and saving up to 111,743 pounds of plastic and 141 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.[v] Although this policy was unfortunately reversed in 2017 by the Trump administration, this order puts the department on track for even more significant reductions.

DO MORE
​Call/write your U.S. Representative and Senators ​

 Ask your U.S. Representative and Senators 
to sponsor
the Reducing Waste in National Parks Act
(S.2960/H.R.5533)!

Join our friends at 5Gyres.org to Collect Data on Plastic Pollution in National Parks!

5gyres.org is mobilizing volunteers to document plastic pollution at U.S. National Parks using their research platform, TrashBlitz. Data will contribute to a report (to be published Fall 2022) that unveils the materials, items, and brands of waste found in national parks. These results can be used to support and inform legislation to keep harmful single-use plastic out of our protected spaces.  more ->

STUDENT ACTION!
​

Students, lead a teach-in on the
​Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act:

Youth Leaders and Teachers,
sign up for free access for the
Break Free From
Plastic Pollution Act
 Teach-in presentation ->

A huge THANK YOU to all our
US Congressional Reps
in NYC
for supporting
this groundbreaking bill!

Ask your US Representatives to support the BREAK FREE FROM PLASTIC POLLUTION ACT 
- Shift responsibility for waste management & recycling to manufacturers and producers
- Set up a US beverage container refund program
- Establish minimum recycled content standards
- Phase out single-use plastic products that aren’t recyclable
- Prohibit plastic waste from being exported to developing countries      
​Read more 

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​

US - Easy Online Action
 **from our friends at BeyondPlastics.org
​

1- Tell Food Delivery Apps to Please Hold The Plastic
     
​
Please let SEAMLESS, DOORDASH, GRUBHUB, DELIVERY.COM, CAVIAR, AND POSTMATE know that most of the single-use items that come along with our to-go orders are not recyclable. These items add to our plastic pollution crisis!

 It is time for these companies to re-design their apps with a "NO single-use" as the default setting for all orders. Uber Eats has already done it.Orders should only have single-use items, such as plastic cutlery, straws and condiment packets if customers ask for it!

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2- Tell Amazon: Stop Polluting Our Planet With Plastic Packaging 
     Almost every Amazon order arrives in plastic packaging and pouches, that gets thrown away or becomes dangerous litter. 

3- Sign the  #PlasticFreePresident petition urging President Biden to lead the fight to end the plastic pollution crisis.
 550+ organizations recently launched a plan outlining the eight executive actions President Biden can take, without Congress, to fight the plastic pollution crisis. President Biden must take all eight actions.

4- Urge the Army Corps of Engineers to prioritize environmental justice and protect wetlands by revoking Formosa Plastics' federal permit 
Submit your public comments to the US Army Corps  to stop Formosa Plastics from polluting Louisiana’s air, water and communities. Make #EnvironmentalJustice and public health a priority.

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New York City
Citywide Curbside Organic Collection bill
Find your NYC COUNCIL MEMBER-->

COMMUNITY ACTION
​for all ages

"Community Science"
for ages 8 - 98!

Students: earn community service hours.​
Engage policymakers on
the plastic pollution crisis 
by sharing local litter data.

NYC  VICTORY!!! 
Thanks to all who helped get the 
Plastic Straw By Request Bill passed.
Start your own Straw-By-Request campaign.
We have tools! ->

​REUSE!
Join the Reuse Revolution - 
​10 simple steps you can take
​from BeyondPlastics.org

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MORE SCHOOL ACTIONS

​EDUCATE
your students, teachers, staff and community
by hosting a screening of our award winning documentary, 
MICROPLASTIC MADNESS!
​
 Free screenings for all Title One schools!
Offering ongoing special free screening days for all schools
Sign up to host a screening here.

PLASTIC FREE LUNCH DAY!
Take climate action by reducing single-use plastics in your school cafeteria. 
​Learn more ->   Start by hosting a screening of
​MICROPLASTIC MADNESS

is your school still using 
styrofoam trays?
Learn about our
STYROFOAM OUT OF SCHOOLS
campaign ->

Students debate, ask questions, collect data, and take community action using their own powerful stories about how local plastic street litter becomes global toxic marine pollution, threatening our oceans and marine wildlife.

​Learn more -> 
Watch our student videos -

Host a school-wide screening and
​join the PLASTIC FREE LUNCH campaign!

Start a student-leadership program in your school cafeteria

Cafeteria Culture is dedicated to supporting youth
as leaders in their schools & communities
to stop plastic pollution, reduce food and food packaging waste,
provide composting for all communities,
and to ensure quality climate education for K-12 students.
YOU CAN HELP!!
​

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NEW YORK ACTION

NY State residents, your action is needed to reduce plastic packaging and plastic pollution.

It's time to shift the financial burden of managing packaging waste from taxpayers to the producers. NY Assemblymember Englebright's and NY State Senator May's Extended Producer Responsibility and Bigger Better Bottle bills reduce packaging, reduce toxics, prohibit plastic burning from counting as recycling, and do not hand over the decision-making power to the very polluters that created the problem in the first place. 

Let's get the NY Extended Producer Responsibility Bill (Assembly bill A10185 - Senate Bill S9493) and Bigger Better Bottle Bill (Assembly bill A10184 - Senate S9164) passed! Here's how you can help:

1. Email and call your State Senator to ask them to support and co-sponsor the EPR Bill (S9493) Bigger Better Bottle Bill (S9164), which have been introduced by Senator Rachel May. Stay connected with us for updates:  twitter @cafeteriacu  Instagram:@CafCu )           
2. Email and call your state Assemblymember and ask them to support and co-sponsor both the Englebright EPR bill (A10185) and also the Englebright Bigger Better Bottle Bill (A10184).​​

Ask your NYS Senator and Assembly Member
to co-sponsor the
tobacco product waste reduction act
NY Senate Bill S1278
stop the sale of polluting cigarettes with single-use filters
and single-use electronic cigarettes
Passing this bill will reduce toxic plastic pollution​
​

NEW YORK
​PLASTIC BAG BAN 

with a 5-cent fee on paper bags (in NYC) is in effect
​Let's make sure it's enforced!
 If you see  NY stores handing out #singleuseplastic bags at checkout,
post on social media and tag @NYSDEC.
Learn more and be inspired to advocate
for a plastic bag ban where you live!

​ 

New York City Action Alert
#SaveOurCompost NYC
82% of NYC’s waste is incinerated or exported to landfills
​and much of our waste is coming from our kitchens!  TAKE ACTION

Compost drop off site at Union Square run by Lower Eastside Ecology Center

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TAKE GLOBAL ACTION!
Sign the petition
tell Governments, world leaders,
representatives at UNEA and beyond
to sign on for a
​Global Treaty on Plastics.

Listen to youth!
CafCu Youth Advocates in action

NYC YOUTH CLIMATE STRIKE 9/20  
Hear ​Rebeca Sabnam,
16 year old CafCu Youth Advocate,
speaking at the Youth #ClimateStrikeNYC 9/20!
​
​"Human greed is fueling our oceans with the power to wipe Bangladesh off the map. We’re almost out of time!"

Learn more about our Youth Advocates Program here ->

​