Senate Bill S747A

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 747--A

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 15, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sens.  KRUEGER, DUANE, ONORATO, SCHNEIDERMAN, SERRANO --
  read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to  be  committed  to
  the  Committee  on Environmental Conservation -- committee discharged,
  bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended  and  recommitted  to  said
  committee

AN  ACT  to  amend  the  environmental  conservation law, in relation to
  prohibiting the use of certain food packaging and plastic food service
  ware

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the "food service waste reduction act".
  S 2. Article 27 of the environmental conservation law  is  amended  by
adding a new title 22 to read as follows:

                                TITLE 22
                       FOOD SERVICE WASTE REDUCTION

SECTION 27-2201. DEFINITIONS.
        27-2203. PROHIBITED DISPOSABLE FOOD SERVICE WARE.
        27-2205. REQUIRED  COMPOSTABLE  OR  RECYCLABLE  DISPOSABLE  FOOD
                   SERVICE WARE.
        27-2207. POWERS OF MUNICIPALITIES.

S 27-2201. DEFINITIONS.
  1. "AFFORDABLE" MEANS PURCHASABLE FOR NOT MORE  THAN  FIFTEEN  PERCENT
MORE  THAN THE PURCHASE COST OF THE NON-BIODEGRADABLE NON-COMPOSTABLE OR
NON-RECYCLABLE ALTERNATIVE.
  2. "ASTM STANDARD" MEANS MEETING THE STANDARDS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY
FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS (ASTM) INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS D6400 OR  D6868

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD00912-05-9

              

S. 747--A                           2

FOR  BIODEGRADABLE  AND  COMPOSTABLE  PLASTICS AS THOSE STANDARDS MAY BE
AMENDED.
  3.  "COMPOSTABLE"  MEANS  ALL  THE MATERIALS IN THE PRODUCT OR PACKAGE
WILL BREAK DOWN INTO, OR OTHERWISE BECOME PART OF USABLE COMPOST  (E.G.,
SOIL-CONDITIONING  MATERIAL,  MULCH)  IN  A SAFE AND TIMELY MANNER IN AN
APPROPRIATE COMPOSTING PROGRAM OR  FACILITY OR IN A HOME COMPOST PILE OR
DEVICE. COMPOSTABLE DISPOSABLE FOOD SERVICE WARE  INCLUDES,  BY  WAY  OF
EXAMPLE,  ASTM  STANDARD  BIO-PLASTICS  (PLASTIC-LIKE PRODUCTS) THAT ARE
CLEARLY LABELED, PREFERABLY WITH A COLOR SYMBOL, SUCH THAT  ANY  COMPOST
COLLECTOR  AND  PROCESSOR  CAN  EASILY  DISTINGUISH  THE  ASTM  STANDARD
COMPOSTABLE PLASTIC FROM NON-ASTM STANDARD COMPOSTABLE PLASTIC. FOR  THE
PURPOSES  OF THIS TITLE THE TERM BIODEGRADABLE SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEAN-
ING AS COMPOSTABLE. THIS TITLE USES THE TERMS BIODEGRADABLE AND COMPOST-
ABLE INTERCHANGEABLY AND IN ALL CASES WHETHER THE TERMS ARE  USED  SEPA-
RATELY,  IN  THE  DISJUNCTIVE OR IN THE CONJUNCTIVE THEY SHALL ALWAYS BE
INTERPRETED AND APPLIED CONSISTENT WITH  THIS  DEFINITION  OF  THE  TERM
"COMPOSTABLE".
  4. "MUNICIPAL CONTRACTORS AND LESSEES" MEANS ANY PERSON OR ENTITY THAT
HAS A CONTRACT WITH THE MUNICIPALITY FOR PUBLIC WORKS OR IMPROVEMENTS TO
BE  PERFORMED,  FOR  A  FRANCHISE,  CONCESSION OR LEASE OF PROPERTY, FOR
GRANT MONIES OR GOODS AND SERVICES OR SUPPLIES TO BE  PURCHASED  AT  THE
EXPENSE OF THE MUNICIPALITY OR TO BE PAID OUT OF MONIES DEPOSITED IN THE
TREASURY  OR  OUT  OF TRUST MONIES UNDER THE CONTROL OR COLLECTED BY THE
MUNICIPALITY.
  5. "MUNICIPAL FACILITY" MEANS ANY BUILDING, STRUCTURE OR VEHICLE OWNED
OR OPERATED BY THE MUNICIPALITY.
  6. "MUNICIPAL FACILITY FOOD PROVIDER" MEANS AN ENTITY  THAT  PROVIDES,
BUT DOES NOT SELL, PREPARED FOOD IN MUNICIPAL FACILITIES.
  7. "DISPOSABLE FOOD SERVICE WARE" MEANS ALL CONTAINERS, BOWLS, PLATES,
TRAYS,  CARTONS,  CUPS, LIDS, STRAWS, FORKS, SPOONS, KNIVES, NAPKINS AND
OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE DESIGNED  FOR  ONE-TIME  USE  FOR  PREPARED  FOODS,
INCLUDING  WITHOUT  LIMITATION,  SERVICE  WARE  FOR TAKEOUT FOODS AND/OR
LEFTOVERS FROM PARTIALLY CONSUMED MEALS PREPARED BY  FOOD  VENDORS.  THE
TERM  "DISPOSABLE  FOOD  SERVICE  WARE"  DOES NOT INCLUDE ITEMS COMPOSED
ENTIRELY OF ALUMINUM OR POLYSTYRENE FOAM COOLERS AND ICE CHESTS THAT ARE
INTENDED FOR REUSE NOR DOES THIS TERM INCLUDE  RECYCLABLE  FOOD  SERVICE
WARE.
  8. "FOOD VENDOR" MEANS ANY RESTAURANT OR RETAIL FOOD VENDOR LOCATED OR
OPERATING WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY.
  9.  "MUNICIPALITY"  MEANS  THE SAME AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION
27-0501 OF THIS ARTICLE.
  10. "PERSON" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL, TRUST, FIRM,  JOINT  STOCK  COMPANY,
CORPORATION, INCLUDING A GOVERNMENT CORPORATION, PARTNERSHIP, OR ASSOCI-
ATION.
  11.  "POLYSTYRENE  FOAM"  MEANS  BLOWN  POLYSTYRENE  AND  EXPANDED AND
EXTRUDED FOAMS (SOMETIMES CALLED STYROFOAM TM) WHICH  ARE  THERMOPLASTIC
PETROCHEMICAL MATERIALS UTILIZING A STYRENE MONOMER AND PROCESSED BY ANY
NUMBER  OF  TECHNIQUES  INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FUSION OF POLYMER
SPHERES (EXPANDABLE BEAD POLYSTYRENE), INJECTION MOLDING, FOAM  MOLDING,
AND  EXTRUSION-BLOWN  MOLDING  (EXTRUDED  FOAM POLYSTYRENE). POLYSTYRENE
FOAM IS GENERALLY USED TO MAKE CUPS,  BOWLS,  PLATES,  TRAYS,  CLAMSHELL
CONTAINERS, MEAT TRAYS AND EGG CARTONS.
  12. "PREPARED FOOD" MEANS FOOD OR BEVERAGES, WHICH ARE SERVICED, PACK-
AGED, COOKED, CHOPPED, SLICED, MIXED, BREWED, FROZEN, SQUEEZED OR OTHER-
WISE  PREPARED  (COLLECTIVELY  "PREPARED")  FOR  INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMERS OR
CONSUMERS. FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS TITLE, PREPARED FOOD INCLUDES TAKEOUT

S. 747--A                           3

FOOD, BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE RAW, BUTCHERED  MEATS,  FISH  AND/OR  POULTRY
SOLD FROM A BUTCHER CASE OR SIMILAR RETAIL APPLIANCE.
  13.  "RECYCLABLE"  MEANS  MATERIAL  THAT  CAN  BE SORTED, CLEANSED AND
RECONSTITUTED USING AVAILABLE  RECYCLING  COLLECTION  PROGRAMS  FOR  THE
PURPOSE  OF  USING THE ALTERED FORM IN THE MANUFACTURE OF A NEW PRODUCT.
RECYCLING DOES NOT INCLUDE BURNING, INCINERATING, CONVERTING, OR  OTHER-
WISE THERMALLY DESTROYING SOLID WASTE.
  14. "RESTAURANT" MEANS ANY ESTABLISHMENT LOCATED WITHIN A MUNICIPALITY
THAT  SELLS PREPARED FOOD FOR CONSUMPTION ON, NEAR, OR OFF ITS PREMISES.
FOR PURPOSES OF THIS TITLE, THE TERM  INCLUDES  A  RESTAURANT  OPERATING
FROM A TEMPORARY FACILITY, CART, VEHICLE OR MOBILE UNIT.
  15. "RETAIL FOOD VENDOR" MEANS ANY STORE, SHOP, SALES OUTLET, OR OTHER
ESTABLISHMENT,  INCLUDING  A  GROCERY STORE, DELICATESSEN OR RESTAURANT,
LOCATED WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY THAT SELLS PREPARED FOOD.
S 27-2203. PROHIBITED DISPOSABLE FOOD SERVICE WARE.
  1. RETAIL FOOD VENDORS SHALL NOT SELL PREPARED FOOD IN DISPOSABLE FOOD
SERVICE WARE THAT CONTAINS POLYSTYRENE FOAM.
  2. MUNICIPAL FACILITY FOOD PROVIDERS SHALL NOT PROVIDE  PREPARED  FOOD
IN DISPOSABLE FOOD SERVICE WARE THAT CONTAINS POLYSTYRENE FOAM.
  3. MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS SHALL NOT PURCHASE, ACQUIRE OR USE DISPOSABLE
FOOD SERVICE WARE THAT CONTAINS POLYSTYRENE FOAM.
  4.  MUNICIPAL  CONTRACTORS  AND  LESSEES SHALL NOT USE DISPOSABLE FOOD
SERVICE WARE THAT CONTAINS POLYSTYRENE FOAM IN MUNICIPAL FACILITIES  AND
WHILE PERFORMING UNDER A MUNICIPAL CONTRACT OR LEASE.
S  27-2205. REQUIRED  COMPOSTABLE  OR RECYCLABLE DISPOSABLE FOOD SERVICE
              WARE.
  1. ALL FOOD VENDORS USING ANY DISPOSABLE FOOD SERVICE WARE SHALL USE A
SUITABLE  AFFORDABLE  ALTERNATIVE  COMPOSTABLE  OR  RECYCLABLE  PRODUCT,
UNLESS THERE IS NO SUITABLE AFFORDABLE COMPOSTABLE OR RECYCLABLE PRODUCT
AVAILABLE  AS  DETERMINED  BY  THE  MUNICIPALITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS
SUBDIVISION. NOT LATER THAN THIRTY DAYS BEFORE  THE  EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF
THIS  TITLE,  THE  COMMISSIONER SHALL ADOPT A LIST OF AVAILABLE SUITABLE
AFFORDABLE COMPOSTABLE OR RECYCLABLE ALTERNATIVES FOR EACH PRODUCT TYPE.
THE MUNICIPALITY SHALL REGULARLY UPDATE THE LIST.
  2. ALL MUNICIPAL FACILITY FOOD  PROVIDERS  AND  MUNICIPAL  DEPARTMENTS
USING ANY DISPOSABLE FOOD SERVICE WARE SHALL USE COMPOSTABLE OR RECYCLA-
BLE DISPOSABLE FOOD SERVICE WARE UNLESS THERE IS NO AFFORDABLE COMPOSTA-
BLE OR RECYCLABLE PRODUCT AVAILABLE AS DETERMINED BY THE MUNICIPALITY IN
ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION 27-2203 OF THIS TITLE.
  3. MUNICIPAL CONTRACTORS AND LESSEES USING ANY DISPOSABLE FOOD SERVICE
WARE SHALL USE COMPOSTABLE OR RECYCLABLE DISPOSABLE FOOD SERVICE WARE IN
MUNICIPAL  FACILITIES AND WHILE PERFORMING UNDER A MUNICIPAL CONTRACT OR
LEASE UNLESS THERE IS NO AFFORDABLE COMPOSTABLE  OR  RECYCLABLE  PRODUCT
AVAILABLE  AS DETERMINED BY THE MUNICIPALITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVI-
SION ONE OF SECTION 27-2203 OF THIS TITLE.
S 27-2207. POWERS OF MUNICIPALITIES.
  1.  ANY MUNICIPALITY MAY PROMULGATE REGULATIONS, ORDINANCES,  OR  LAWS
TO  TAKE ANY AND ALL OTHER REASONABLE ACTIONS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT AND
ENFORCE THIS TITLE.
  2. ANY PERSON MAY SEEK A  WAIVER  FROM  THE  REQUIREMENTS  OF  SECTION
27-2205  OF  THIS  TITLE  BY  FILING A REQUEST ON A FORM PROVIDED BY THE
MUNICIPALITY. THE MUNICIPALITY MAY, CONSISTENT WITH  THIS  TITLE,  WAIVE
ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT OF THIS TITLE FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO ONE YEAR IF
THE  PERSON  SEEKING THE WAIVER HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT STRICT APPLICATION
OF THE REQUIREMENT WOULD CREATE AN UNDUE HARDSHIP OR PRACTICAL DIFFICUL-
TY NOT GENERALLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER PERSONS IN  SIMILAR  CIRCUMSTANCES.

S. 747--A                           4

THE  MUNICIPALITY'S  DECISION TO GRANT OR DENY SUCH A WAIVER SHALL BE IN
WRITING AND SHALL BE FINAL.
  3.   ALL MUNICIPAL CONTRACTS AND LEASES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION,
CONTRACTS WITH MUNICIPAL FACILITY  FOOD  PROVIDERS,  SHALL  CONTAIN  THE
FOLLOWING  MINIMUM LANGUAGE: "CONTRACTOR AGREES TO COMPLY FULLY WITH AND
BE BOUND BY ALL OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE FOOD  SERVICE  WASTE  REDUCTION
ACT,  AS PROVIDED IN TITLE 22 OF ARTICLE 27 OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSER-
VATION LAW, INCLUDING THE REMEDIES PROVIDED, AND IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES
AND RULES. THE PROVISIONS OF SUCH LAW ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN BY  REFER-
ENCE  AND  MADE A PART OF THIS AGREEMENT AS THOUGH FULLY SET FORTH. THIS
PROVISION IS A MATERIAL TERM OF THIS AGREEMENT. BY  ENTERING  INTO  THIS
AGREEMENT, CONTRACTOR AGREES THAT IF IT BREACHES THIS PROVISION, MUNICI-
PALITY  WILL SUFFER ACTUAL DAMAGES THAT WILL BE IMPRACTICAL OR EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE; FURTHER, CONTRACTOR AGREES THAT THE SUM  OF  ONE
HUNDRED  DOLLARS  ($100.00) LIQUIDATED DAMAGES FOR THE FIRST BREACH, TWO
HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00) LIQUIDATED DAMAGES FOR THE  SECOND  BREACH  IN
THE SAME YEAR, AND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($500.00) LIQUIDATED DAMAGES FOR
SUBSEQUENT  BREACHES  IN  THE  SAME YEAR IS A REASONABLE ESTIMATE OF THE
DAMAGE THAT MUNICIPALITY WILL INCUR BASED ON THE VIOLATION,  ESTABLISHED
IN  LIGHT  OF  THE CIRCUMSTANCES EXISTING AT THE TIME THIS AGREEMENT WAS
MADE. SUCH AMOUNTS SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED A PENALTY, BUT RATHER  AGREED
MONETARY DAMAGES SUSTAINED BY MUNICIPALITY BECAUSE OF CONTRACTOR'S FAIL-
URE TO COMPLY WITH THIS PROVISION."
  S  3.  The  environmental  conservation law is amended by adding a new
section 71-2729 to read as follows:
S 71-2729. ENFORCEMENT OF SECTIONS 27-2203 AND 27-2205.
  1. THE MUNICIPALITY SHALL ISSUE A WRITTEN WARNING TO  ANY  PERSON  THE
MUNICIPALITY  DETERMINES IS VIOLATING SECTION 27-2203 OR 27-2205 OF THIS
CHAPTER. IF AFTER ISSUING A WRITTEN WARNING OF VIOLATION FROM THE  MUNI-
CIPALITY,  THE  MUNICIPALITY  FINDS THAT PERSON CONTINUES TO VIOLATE THE
PROVISIONS OF SECTION 27-2203 OR 27-2205 OF THIS  CHAPTER,  THE  MUNICI-
PALITY MAY IMPOSE THE VARIOUS SANCTIONS PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION.
  2.  ANY  PERSON  WHO  VIOLATES  THE  PROVISIONS  OF SECTION 27-2203 OR
27-2205 OF THIS CHAPTER SHALL BE GUILTY OF A VIOLATION. IF CHARGED AS  A
VIOLATION,  UPON  CONVICTION  THEREOF, SUCH PERSON SHALL BE PUNISHED FOR
THE FIRST OFFENSE BY A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS  FOR  A
FIRST  VIOLATION;  NOT  MORE  THAN  TWO  HUNDRED  DOLLARS  FOR  A SECOND
VIOLATION IN THE SAME YEAR AND NOT MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED  FIFTY  DOLLARS
FOR EACH SUBSEQUENT VIOLATION IN THE SAME YEAR.
  3.  THE MUNICIPALITY MAY ISSUE AN ADMINISTRATIVE CIVIL LIABILITY CITA-
TION TO SUCH PERSON IN AN AMOUNT NOT EXCEEDING ONE HUNDRED  DOLLARS  FOR
THE FIRST VIOLATION, AN AMOUNT NOT EXCEEDING TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THE
SECOND  VIOLATION,  AND NOT MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS FOR EACH
SUBSEQUENT VIOLATION AGAINST THE SAME PERSON.
  S 4. This act shall take effect on the three hundred  sixty-fifth  day
after it shall have become a law.