S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5248
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 12, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. K. BROWN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
enacting the "New York state waste recycling and reduction act"
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 "New York state waste recycling and reduction act".
§ 2. Article 27 of the environmental conservation law is amended by
adding a new title 34 to read as follows:
TITLE 34
COMMERCIAL RECYCLING
SECTION 27-3401. DEFINITIONS.
27-3403. COMMERCIAL RECYCLING PROGRAM.
§ 27-3401. DEFINITIONS.
FOR PURPOSES OF THIS TITLE, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOW-
ING MEANINGS:
1. "COMMERCIAL BUILDING" SHALL MEAN ANY BUILDING THAT IS USED, OR ANY
BUILDING OF WHICH A PORTION IS USED, FOR BUYING, SELLING OR OTHERWISE
PROVIDING GOODS OR SERVICES, OR FOR OTHER LAWFUL BUSINESS, COMMERCIAL,
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OR MANUFACTURING ACTIVITIES;
2. "RECYCLE" SHALL MEAN TO SEPARATE, DISMANTLE OR PROCESS THE MATERI-
ALS, COMPONENTS OR COMMODITIES CONTAINED IN WASTE FOR THE PURPOSE OF
PREPARING THE MATERIALS, COMPONENTS OR COMMODITIES FOR USE IN NEW
PRODUCTS OR COMPONENTS THEREOF, BUT NOT FOR ENERGY RECOVERY OR ENERGY
GENERATION BY MEANS OF COMBUSTION, GASIFICATION, PYROLYSIS OR OTHER
MEANS. RECYCLING INCLUDES THE MANUAL AND MECHANICAL SEPARATION OF ELEC-
TRONIC WASTE TO RECOVER MATERIALS, COMPONENTS OR COMMODITIES CONTAINED
THEREIN FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECYCLING, AND CHANGING THE PHYSICAL OR CHEM-
ICAL COMPOSITION OF WASTE TO SEGREGATE COMPONENTS FOR PURPOSES OF RECY-
CLING THOSE COMPONENTS; AND
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08492-01-5
A. 5248 2
3. "SINGLE-USE PLASTIC PRODUCTS" SHALL INCLUDE:
(A) PLASTIC BAGS;
(B) CLING FILM PLASTIC FOOD PACKAGING;
(C) NON-RECYCLABLE PLASTIC BOTTLES;
(D) PLASTIC STRAWS;
(E) PLASTIC PLATES, NON-REUSABLE PLASTIC CONTAINERS, PLASTIC CUPS,
PLASTIC LIDS AND PLASTIC STIRRERS;
(F) PLASTIC CUTLERY;
(G) PLASTIC RINGS USED IN PACKAGING;
(H) STYROFOAM PLATES, STYROFOAM TAKE-AWAY CONTAINERS AND STYROFOAM
TRAYS; AND
(I) ANY OTHER SINGLE-USE PLASTIC PRODUCTS DETERMINED TO BE INCLUDED BY
THE DEPARTMENT.
§ 27-3403. COMMERCIAL RECYCLING PROGRAM.
1. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH A COMMERCIAL RECYCLING PROGRAM TO
REQUIRE EACH COMMERCIAL BUILDING IN THE STATE TO RECYCLE PAPER PRODUCTS
AND SINGLE-USE PLASTIC PRODUCTS PRODUCED OR USED ON SITE.
2. EACH COMMERCIAL BUILDING SHALL ARRANGE FOR THE COLLECTION OF PAPER
PRODUCTS AND SINGLE-USE PLASTIC PRODUCTS. A COMMERCIAL BUILDING MAY
ARRANGE FOR THE COLLECTION OF SUCH PRODUCTS BY A PRIVATE CARTER, MAY
TRANSPORT SUCH PRODUCTS ITSELF, OR MAY PROCESS SUCH PRODUCTS ON SITE, IF
THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES THAT ADEQUATE RECYCLING PROCESSES EXIST.
3. COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS AND COMMERCIAL BUILDING MANAGEMENT SHALL
PROVIDE COLLECTION AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, INCLUDING REGULAR PERIOD-
ICAL GUIDANCE, TRAINING, UPDATES, SIGNAGE, AND FLYERS, FOR ITS WORK-
FORCE, TENANTS AND THE PUBLIC FOR THE PURPOSES OF TEACHING AND RETAINING
EFFECTIVE PROCEDURES FOR SORTING MATERIALS FOR RECYCLING.
4. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS AS NECESSARY
TO IMPLEMENT THIS TITLE.
5. THIS TITLE SHALL NOT LIMIT THE AUTHORITY OF A LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL
AGENCY TO ADOPT, IMPLEMENT, OR ENFORCE REQUIREMENTS ON RECYCLING THAT
ARE MORE STRINGENT OR COMPREHENSIVE THAN THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS TITLE.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law.