New York State Plastic Regulations

New York is the fourth most populous state in the United States and home to the most densely populated city in the country. The state borders the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean and is home to beautiful and diverse wilderness. State leaders are taking pains to keep plastic from this populous state out of lakes, the ocean, and the land. To achieve this, they’ve implemented New York State plastic bans and are looking to introduce more plastic restrictions in the future. 

What to Know About the Impact of Plastics and Plastic Bans in New York State 

Here are some key details about the plastic crisis and how it affects the state of New York. 

• Plastic production has skyrocketed in the past few years and is expected to double in the next 20 years. 
• In the state of New York, hard-to-recycle plastics are crowding landfills and the state’s 10 waste incinerators. 
• A nationwide Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) survey found that 94% of participants support initiatives to prevent microplastics from entering our food supply and drinking water.
• The same poll found that 90% of participants support the use of alternative packaging to single-use plastics. 
• New York citizens also want to curb plastic production. To address the plastic crisis, the state has implemented various plastic bans. 

New York State Plastic Legislation 

Legislators are pushing to control plastic waste throughout New York. The state’s plastic bans are an attempt to reduce the usage of plastic bags and Styrofoam. Lawmakers are also working to introduce new laws to further bend the curve on plastic consumption. 

New York State Plastic Bag Law

The NYS Bag Waste Reduction Act took effect on March 14, 2020. It prohibits persons who collect New York State sales tax from providing plastic carryout bags to their customers. 

No Foam Law

The state ban on expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) took effect on January 1, 2022. Retail and wholesale stores and covered foodservice providers may no longer sell or distribute single-serve items containing this problematic plastic. 

Banned items include:

• Takeout containers
• Cups
• Plates
• Trays
• Bowls
• Coolers

This law also prohibits companies from producing and selling polystyrene loose-fill packaging (commonly known as packaging peanuts). 

The New York Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act

This comprehensive packaging reduction legislation was passed in the Senate on June 7, 2024 but did not pass the Assembly. This act aimed to reduce packaging by 30% over 12 years. After this period, all packaging would need to meet a recycling rate of 30%. Producers would be responsible for managing their packaging throughout its life cycle—from manufacturing to disposal. 

The bill would have required businesses with a net annual income of over $1 million to decrease single-use plastic packaging by 50% over 12 years. The act also prohibited chemical recycling as a viable recycling method. 

In addition to these state laws, various local initiatives help curb the use of single-use plastics. Local plastic straw and cutlery restrictions, for example, help reduce plastic pollution in various areas throughout New York. 

How New York State Plastic Legislation Reduces Single-Use Plastics

Since 2020, New York consumers have used reusable shopping bags instead of plastic ones. Alternatively, they can purchase paper bags from a store. These bags are much more sustainable than plastic ones, as they are easier to recycle and biodegradable. 

Establishments in the Empire State have also switched from selling and offering Styrofoam packaging, which is not recyclable or biodegradable, to more sustainable alternatives. These include harder plastics, aluminum, paper, and compostable containers. 

Explore Compostable Products from Greenprint 

Greenprint helps minimize the use of oil-based single-use plastics by offering compostable options. Browse our top-performing products or contact our helpful team online to learn more about our zero-plastic packaging solutions.