NYPSC Quarterly Newsletter – Summer 2019

NYPSC Updates
Paint Stewardship Bill Passes New York State Legislature
Nov. 4: Join Us at the NYSAR3 Pre-Conference Forum on Product Stewardship
Make Your Voice Heard: Product Producers Should be Responsible for Recycling their Packaging
Welcome to NYPSC’s Newest Board Member, Tom Outerbridge

National Updates
EPR Proposal for Packaging Hits the National Stage
Paint EPR Bill Passes in Washington State
The Future of Packaging Wins Gold Medal and Named “Most Likely to Save the Planet”
International Paint Recycling Association (IPRA) Kicks off with Inaugural Meeting

Events, Webinars, & Conferences

What We’re Reading

NYPSC Updates

Paint Stewardship Bill Passes New York State Legislature
The New York State legislature passed A 6373 (same as S.4351), an extended producer responsibility (EPR) bill that would require producers of architectural paint to establish a statewide paint recycling program. Next, the bill will be sent to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo; NYPSC submitted a letter of support to the Governor urging him to sign. An estimated 4 million gallons of unwanted paint will be collected in NYS annually if the measure is signed into law.

The legislation would allow local governments to collect unwanted paint if they so choose. Costs to recycle the paint will be paid by PaintCare, a not-for-profit stewardship organization. Passage of this bill is a landmark for paint stewardship in New York and nationally.

Nov. 4: Join Us at the NYSAR3 Pre-Conference Forum on Product Stewardship
In collaboration with NYSAR3 and SWANA-NY, NYPSC will host a forum on product stewardship. The forum will feature presentations and discussion led by national experts. After a brief overview on the state of EPR legislation across the country, the forum will take a deep dive into the advancement of EPR for several products in our state, including: consumer product packaging, paint, alkaline batteries, and household hazardous waste. The forum will conclude with an update from the Department of Health on implementation of the NY Drug Take-Back Act, which passed last year.

The forum will take place on Monday, November 4, the day before NYSAR3’s Annual Recycling Conference at the Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown, NY. For more information, please visit: https://www.nysar3.org/page/annual-recycling-conference-23.html

Register today! We can’t wait to see you there.

Make Your Voice Heard: Product Producers Should be Responsible for Recycling their Packaging
NYPSC is advancing packaging EPR in the wake of the recycling market crisis. It’s time to raise your voice! We have created an email that you can send to Governor Cuomo, Assemblyman Englebright, and Senator Kaminsky to show your support for packaging EPR and bring this critical solution to their attention. All you have to do is sign and send.

Welcome to NYPSC’s Newest Board Member, Tom Outerbridge
NYPSC’s Board is proud to welcome Tom Outerbridge, who has been the General Manager for Sims Municipal Recycling for 15 years. Sims is the processor and marketer of all commingled curbside recyclables collected by the NYC Department of Sanitation. Under Tom’s leadership, Sims handles approximately half a million tons of material each year through a network of waterfront facilities in the Bronx, Queens, Jersey City, and Brooklyn. He has worked in the field of recycling and composting since the 1980s. NYPSC is honored to have you, Tom!

National Updates

EPR Proposal for Packaging Hits the National Stage
U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and U.S. Representative Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) released an outline of legislation including EPR as part of a comprehensive approach to address single-use plastics and other packaging waste. PSI assisted legislative staff in strengthening the EPR provision and shared best practices for managing plastics. NYPSC is providing feedback on the proposal to PSI and the legislators to refine the initial proposal and inform a federal bill expected to be developed this fall.

Paint EPR Bill Passes in Washington State
Washington HB 1652 passed the state legislature on April 27. On May 9, Governor Jay Inslee signed the bill into law. The new law will establish the tenth industry-run collection and recycling program for leftover household paint in the United States. It is the first paint bill to pass since Washington D.C. passed its paint EPR law in 2015.

The Future of Packaging Wins Gold Medal and Named “Most Likely to Save the Planet”
The Independent Publisher Book Awards has awarded a gold medal to The Future of Packaging: From Linear to Circular. One of only eight Outstanding Book of the Year gold medalists, the book is also recognized as “Most Likely to Save the Planet.” PSI CEO Scott Cassel’s chapter explores “Who is Responsible for Recycling Packaging?” Get your copy today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

International Paint Recycling Association (IPRA) Kicks off with Inaugural Meeting
An alliance of a dozen North American recycled paint manufacturers operating in more than 20 states and multiple Canadian provinces launched IPRA at an inaugural Recycled Paint Summit held in Azusa, CA. IPRA is the first organization to represent the recycled paint industry, which over the past two decades has recycled more than 30 million gallons of unused household latex paint into first-rate coatings for residential and commercial markets.

The organization, formed to promote the value of recycled latex paint, is developing the IPRA Green Standard® paint certification program to guarantee that certified products meet stringent performance standards.

Events, Webinars, and Conferences

  • Free webinar: Roadmap to Pesticide Stewardship: Best Practices and Solutions | Product Stewardship Institute | September 20 | 1pm – 2:30pm EST | Register
  • 30th Annual Recycling Conference and Trade Show | New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling | November 5-6 | Cooperstown, NY | Register
  • Free webinar recording: Designing Sharps Stewardship for the Circular Economy | Product Stewardship Institute | Download
  • 2020 U.S. Product Stewardship Forum: Please put in your budgets funding to attend the 2020 PSI forum. The date and location will be announced soon.

What We’re Reading