Leaders of New York’s Environmental Justice community today hailed passage of a series of legislative bills by the State Senate aimed at reducing single-use plastic containers by the hotel and hospitality industry, calling on Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to quickly sign the bill into law and help eliminate plastic waste in the Empire State.

Seeking environmental justice for NY communities, increased safety from harmful chemicals for families and firefighters, and protections for land and water, hundreds of community advocates from across the Empire State held zoom conferences with more than 60 state legislators today during the 51st Earth Day Celebration and Advocacy Day.

By overwhelming margins, both houses of the New York legislature passed S. 3392 (May) / A. 2655 (Englebright) to amend the Environmental Conservation law by appropriately classifying waste from oil and gas exploration, development, extraction or production as hazardous. This designation ensures that such waste is subject to all laws and regulations governing generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal, if such waste meets New York’s established definition of hazardous waste. The law will take effect immediately upon enactment by Governor Cuomo, at which point the state has six months to bring its regulations into compliance with the law.