S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7893
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
July 19, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. FAHY -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the board of
trustees of The State University of New York to develop a SUNY-wide
zero waste action plan
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 355-f
to read as follows:
§ 355-F. SUNY-WIDE ZERO WASTE ACTION PLAN. 1. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IN
CONSULTATION WITH FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS, THE STUDENT ASSEMBLY, ANY
LABOR ORGANIZATION WHICH HAS BEEN SELECTED BY MEMBERS OF FACULTY, STAFF,
OR STUDENTS TO REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS, AND ANY DESIGNATED SUSTAINA-
BILITY STAFF MEMBER SHALL ISSUE A REPORT ON OR BEFORE ONE YEAR AFTER THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION CREATING A COMPREHENSIVE SUNY-WIDE ZERO
WASTE ACTION PLAN INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING FOCUS
AREAS:
A. SOURCE REDUCTION ALSO KNOWN AS WASTE MINIMIZATION, INCLUDING BUT
NOT LIMITED TO:
(I) SINGLE USE PLASTICS ELIMINATION AND REDUCTION; AND
(II) REFORMS TO PROCUREMENT RESULTING IN WASTE MINIMIZATION;
B. MATERIALS REUSE, INCLUDING SURPLUS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND FACILITY
DECONSTRUCTION;
C. COMPREHENSIVE RECYCLING, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION
MATERIALS;
D. COMPREHENSIVE COMPOSTING OR ORGANICS RECYCLING;
E. STUDENT, FACULTY, AND STAFF ENGAGEMENT; AND
F. VENDOR AND CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS AND ENGAGEMENT.
2. THE PLAN SHALL INCLUDE METRICS FOR TRACKING WASTE REDUCTION AND
DIVERSION ACROSS THE SYSTEM, ESTABLISHING A BASELINE, INTERIM TARGETS
FOR GOALS AND ACTIONS THAT WILL LEAD TO ZERO WASTE, AND PUBLICLY REPORT-
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04995-01-3
A. 7893 2
ING THIS INFORMATION. ZERO WASTE GOALS MUST INCLUDE BOTH DIVERSION
THROUGH RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING AND REDUCTION THROUGH WASTE MINIMIZA-
TION GOALS. THE ZERO WASTE ACTION PLAN MUST PRIORITIZE DURABLE AND REUS-
ABLE MATERIALS OVER SINGLE USE MATERIALS, EVEN IF THOSE MATERIALS ARE
RECYCLABLE AND/OR COMPOSTABLE.
3. THE PLAN SHALL SET A DETAILED PROJECT TIMELINE FOR THE SYSTEM TO
BECOME ZERO WASTE BY TWO THOUSAND THIRTY-ONE.
4. WITHIN ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS OF THE ISSUANCE OF A SYSTEM WIDE
PLAN, EACH SUNY CAMPUS SHALL BE REQUIRED TO CREATE A DETAILED ACTION
PLAN, IN CONSULTATION WITH FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS, STUDENT GOVERNMENT
ASSOCIATIONS, ANY LABOR ORGANIZATION WHICH HAS BEEN SELECTED BY MEMBERS
OF FACULTY, STAFF, OR STUDENTS TO REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS, AND ANY
DESIGNATED SUSTAINABILITY STAFF MEMBER.
5. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING THE
EFFECTIVENESS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH PROGRAM IN CONSULTATION WITH
FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS, THE STUDENT ASSEMBLY, AND ANY LABOR ORGANIZA-
TION WHICH HAS BEEN SELECTED BY MEMBERS OF FACULTY, STAFF, OR STUDENTS
TO REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS, AND SHALL ANNUALLY REPORT TO THE LEGISLA-
TURE ON THE PROGRESS OF THE PLAN AND POST SUCH REPORT ON THE UNIVERSITY
WEBSITE. SUCH REPORT SHALL INCLUDE A COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT OF ALL WASTE
AND MATERIALS DIVERTED AND UPDATES ON INVENTORY AND SHALL REVIEW EACH
CAMPUS ACTION PLAN AND INCLUDE INTERMEDIATE MEASURES SHOULD A CAMPUS NOT
BE ON TRACK TO MEET THE TWO THOUSAND THIRTY-ONE DEADLINE.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.