To the editor:

If you’re frustrated by the amount of plastic packaging that enters your life, take heart: A pair of bills wending their way through the NY State Legislature aim to address that. But they need your help to get across the finish line, so please keep reading. 

The Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act (A.6353A/S.4246) would reduce the amount of packaging in New York State by 50 percent over 12 years. It would mandate standards for post-consumer recycled content in the remaining packaging. And it would eliminate 12 toxic chemicals — including PFAS, lead, cadmium, formaldehyde and halogenated flame retardants — that are currently permitted in packaging, despite being known to harm human health. 

Meanwhile, the Bigger Better Bottle Bill (A.6353/S.237) would build on New York’s 40-year-old beverage container deposit law. Although highly effective, the current law is dated and needs an overhaul. The new bill would cover more containers, like those for lemonade, iced tea, sports drinks, wine and liquor. It would also increase the deposit amount for the first time in 40 years, from 5 cents to 10 — a boon to New Yorkers who augment or earn their income by recycling discarded cans and bottles.  

The legislative session ends for the year on June 8, so we don’t have much time. Please call your Assemblymember — for most people registered to vote in Sullivan, that’s Aileen Gunther — and urge her to co-sponsor both bills. Similarly, please urge your state senator to support the bill, as well. Not sure who your state representatives are? Visit openstates.org/ny/legislators/ and enter your address in the search box. 

An astonishing 40 percent of the plastic made today goes into throwaway packaging that’s designed to be used just once and then discarded. We can turn this around, but you need to act. Please pick up the phone today. 

Rebekah Creshkoff

Beyond Plastics 

Callicoon