BILL NUMBER: S5447
SPONSOR: SERRANO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
establishing a symbol to denote environmental composting
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this legislation is to establish an all-encompassing
symbol to note which products are accepted in composting facilities in
the state.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 directs the department of environmental conservation to devel-
op a symbol denoting a product that is acceptable in every composting
facility governed by the department. The Department shall both promul-
gate rules and regulations for the implementation of this section; and
create a list of categories of products that will bear the symbol.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation would establish an all-encompassing symbol for compost-
able packaging and materials so New Yorkers can identify quickly and
easily when to compost their waste, or when to divert it toward conven-
tional waste collection.
According to the Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice,
New Yorkers produce nearly four million tons of waste at home and anoth-
er four million tons in workplaces annually. A significant portion of
compostable waste is sent to landfills, where it releases methane, a
greenhouse gas - which contributes to climate change but also costs
municipalities money.
By diverting compostable waste to composting programs, taxpayers save
money on landfill fees while also reducing gas emission, which mitigates
our contribution to climate change.
As major cities move towards reducing this waste by implementing manda-
tory composting, (mandatory NYC city-wide composting will begin in April
2025) informing consumers of which nonfood items are compostable or not
will not only provide opportunities for better informed consumer choic-
es, but a way for New Yorkers to avoid penalties from unintentionally
sorting their waste incorrectly. Additionally, some businesses have
already begun identifying compostable products, this bill will also
create a standardized symbology
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:-
2024 - S9585: Referred to Environmental Conservation
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:-
None to the state.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:'
This act shall take effect immediately.