JUSTGREEN PARTNERSHIP HOLDS AN ADVOCACY DAY IN ALBANY
For immediate release: May 23, 2023
For more information, contact: Bobbi Wilding, bobbi@chny.org, 518-708-3875
URGENT ACTION NEEDED TO END PFAS POISONING,
TOXIC CHEMICALS IN PRODUCTS, ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, ADVOCATES SAY
Albany, NY - Tuesday, May 23rd: In the last few days of the 2023 legislative session, JustGreen Partnership member organizations and legislators called for action on key environmental bills that bans toxic chemicals in products, protects New Yorkers' health from chemicals like PFAS, lead, and chemicals that cause cancer, infertility, obesity, diabetes, and learning disabilities, and advances environmental justice by expanding public participation early on in permitting processes.
The JustGreen Partnership is calling for passage of:
The Safe Personal Care and Cosmetics Act - S. 4265 (Webb) - on the floor / A.6969 (Glick): regulates ingredients in personal care products and cosmetics, including toxic chemicals proven to be harmful to women and people of color.
PFAS in Products Ban - S.5648A (Hoylman-Sigal) / A.3556A (Zebrowski): bans PFAS in products, e,g., cookware, architectural paint, textiles, fabric treatments, ski wax and cleaning products.
PFAS In Anti-Fogging Sprays and Wipes - S. 992A - Passed (Hoylman-Sigal) / A.5363A (Gallagher): bans PFAS in anti-fogging sprays and wipes.
PFAS and Toxics in Menstrual Products - S. 3529A (Fernandez) - on the floor / A.5990A (L Rosenthal): bans toxic chemicals in menstrual and intimate hygiene products, e.g., PFAS, mercury, phthalates, parabens, and formaldehyde.
Birds and Bees Protection Act - S. 1856 - on the floor (Hoylman-Sigal) / A.3226 - Passed (Glick): prohibits the sale of neonicotinoids, or seeds coated with neonicotinoids, which studies show cause cardiac arrest, tremors and autism-like symptoms in humans.
Expanded Public Participation - S. 2510A - Passed (Ramos) / A.6584A (Gallagher): requires project applicants to provide a comprehensive plan to the DEC for public feedback on proposed facilities intended to be sited in disadvantaged communities.
Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act - S.4246 (Harckham) / A.5322 (Glick): requires product manufacturers to be responsible for the cost of collecting and recycling the packaging waste they create, and will reduce packaging waste, increase recycling, eliminate toxic chemicals in packaging, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save local governments and taxpayers money.
“Toxic chemicals are almost everywhere we turn - our food, our air, our products, and our packaging. Before this legislative session ends, we are calling on the entire New York State legislature to uphold our legacy as national environmental leaders by passing these key bills,” said Bobbi Wilding, Executive Director of Clean+Healthy, co-lead of the JustGreen Partnership. “It is critical that there are restrictions on dangerous pesticides used on our food crops, bans on heavy metals and forever chemicals in our personal care, menstrual hygiene, and everyday products, improved waste disposal to include reduction in packaging especially those with toxic chemicals, and assurances that communities are included in plans for facilities with potential to impact their health.
State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal said, "Protecting our planet for future generations is one of the most important responsibilities we have as legislators. The leading environmental organization Clean+Healthy’s 2023 priority legislation maps out how New York can respond to the immediate climate crisis. I’m proud the package includes three of my bills to restrict the use of neonicotinoid pesticides (S1856) and ban toxic PFAS chemicals in products (S5648) - including anti fogging sprays and wipes (S992). This is how New York can continue to champion progressive climate change action."
“PFAS chemicals, also known as “forever chemicals” have been linked to cancer, decreased fertility, a weakened immune system, and increased risk of asthma and thyroid disease, according to the Center for Disease Control,” said Senate Women’s Issues Chair Lea Webb. “Forever chemicals and other toxic, endocrine-disrupting chemicals have no place in the cosmetics and personal-care products we use in our daily lives. By discontinuing the use of these chemicals in cosmetics and personal use products, my legislation (S4265) seeks to protect consumers, especially those who are historically marginalized and are disproportionately exposed to and harmed by these products.”
"In the final days of session, the legislature has an historic opportunity to protect the health of New Yorkers and the environment we all share. We should seize this moment and pass urgent, common sense laws to tackle toxic chemicals, including my bills to prohibit PFAS in common consumer products and enhance public participation when polluting infrastructure damages environmental justice communities," said Assemblymember Emily Gallagher.
"Research continues to show the harmful impacts of PFAS chemicals. While New York has taken action to limit their use, we must do more to prohibit their use in products like cleaning supplies, textiles, cookware, and more. I'm proud to sponsor legislation that would phase out the use of PFAS such products, and will continue to work with my colleagues to move this bill forward in the Assembly," said Assemblymember Ken Zebrowski.
"The full impact of toxic chemicals to our air, water, land, and communities is often not realized until the contamination, and ensuing cancers, neuropathies and premature deaths have already occurred," said Caitlin Ferrante, Conservation Program Manager, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter. "The JustGreen Partnership's end of session priorities are all policies that will turn off the tap for these forever chemicals found in everyday products - some even in our food supply - further protecting our communities and safeguarding our most vulnerable citizens. We look forward to working with the legislature to pass the JustGreen Partnership priorities as the legislative session draws to a close."
Brian Smith, Associate Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE), said: “It’s time for corporations to take out their own trash. Each year companies ship billions of packages and exacerbate the solid waste crisis, yet bear no responsibility for managing the waste they create. This bill will ensure that corporations—not local governments and taxpayers—shoulder the financial burden of recycling packaging, while reducing waste and eliminating toxic chemicals in packaging. CCE applauds Senator Harckham and Assemblywoman Glick for their leadership, and urges the legislature to pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act without delay.”
“We are calling on the state legislature to urgently stand up for environmental justice and pass these critical bills,” said Briana Carbajal, WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s State Legislative Manager. “Senator Ramos’ and Assemblymember Gallagher’s bill will give communities a voice in the permitting process for potential sources of pollution, which is critical because the residents of these communities, most often people of color, are the ones most impacted by these decisions. Senator Webb’s and Assemblymember Rosenthal’s Safe Personal Care & Cosmetics Act will help get toxic ingredients out of their everyday products, which are used more frequently by women of color.”
“The New York League of Conservation Voters is proud to support legislation that protects and strengthens our environment,” said Andrew Williams, Deputy State Policy Director of the New York League of Conservation Voters. “The Packing Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act will reduce landfill waste by requiring companies that package products to take responsibility for making their materials more sustainable. The Birds and Bees Protection Act will protect crucial pollinators by banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides. Both of these laws are critical to a sustainable future, and we encourage Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State legislature to pass these bills as well as the full slate of JustGreen Partnership bills before the end of the legislative session.”
“We must act now. By passing these bills, our legislature can protect New Yorkers, our environment, and our economy,” said Bob Rossi, Executive Director of the New York Sustainable Business Council. “These policies would boost New York’s long term agricultural potential by safeguarding our water, soil, and pollinators from the most persistent and toxic chemicals. Our water quality further impacts New York’s growing craft beverage industry, and many of these chemicals threaten the health of our entire workforce. New York State can lead the transition to safer alternatives, drive innovation, and stop contamination at its source.”
“When New York leads on forward-thinking environmental policy, New Yorkers' health and environment are improved, and other states follow. That is why it is so important for the legislature to take advantage of the opportunities to cut toxic PFAS chemicals in consumer products, save our bees, and cut plastic pollution," said Richard Schrader, New York Legislative and Policy Director for NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). "The time is short, but legislators must pass the Birds and Bees Protection Act, the Waste Reduction and Infrastructure Recycling Act, and a package of bills that would eliminate toxic forever chemicals from personal and home products we use daily.”
“An individual can use over 16,000 feminine hygiene products over the course of their lifetime. This opens their body to an influx of all types of chemicals and substances. This bill will prohibit the use of certain chemicals, as determined by the Commissioner of Public Health, in menstrual products. Such chemicals include, but are not limited to, talc, mercury, and lead, all of which can cause complications to a person's health. Under current law, there is a certain ambiguity on which ingredients can be included in fragrances, colorants, dyes, or preservatives.
This bill would further prohibit the usage of any restricted substances under the terminology of fragrances, colorants, dyes, or preservatives. This bill would prohibit the use of certain restricted substances in menstrual products including, but not limited to, talc, lead, and mercury. This legislation will also ban the use of such restricted substances as a fragrance, colorant, dye, preservation, or other intentionally added ingredient for the presentation of products," said Senator Nathalia Fernandez.
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The JustGreen Partnership is a 17 year old diverse collaboration of environmental justice, environmental health, environmental, health-affected, children’s, and business organizations working for environmental health and justice for New York’s people and communities. Learn more: just-green.org