Labor Unions Warn New York Current EPR Bill Could Disrupt Jobs, Supply Chains and Consumer Prices
ALBANY, N.Y. ‒ In partnership with the New Yorkers for Better Recycling coalition, labor unions representing thousands of New York workers are warning lawmakers that the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S.1464A/A.1749A) could threaten jobs, disrupt supply chains and raise costs for consumers and employers across the state.
The New York State AFL-CIO along with some of the most respected voices in the labor movement, including New York State Conference of Teamsters and the United Steelworkers, are on record in strong opposition to the proposal.
The bill would create a new producer responsibility program for packaging and impose new reduction, recycling, and material-restriction requirements on companies that sell packaged goods in New York. While there were amendments introduced during this legislative session, they do not address the fundamental concerns that labor unions have repeatedly raised publicly and with supporters of this legislation.
The Teamsters, representing more than 120,000 workers across New York, continue to raise concerns about the impact that this bill could have on beverage production and delivery jobs despite changes made to the legislation over the past year.
“While the Teamsters share the common goal of packaging reduction with the sponsors, we cannot support legislation that could be so disruptive as to threaten the employment of our members who deliver beverages to millions of New Yorkers,” Teamsters Joint Councils 16, 18 and 46 wrote in their legislative memorandum.
Unions are not opposed to improving New York’s recycling system. But are concerned that this bill goes too far, too fast, and targets the wrong materials. It risks removing common products from grocery shelves. It threatens wages and hours for warehouse workers, drivers, processors, and packagers. It even undermines recycling sectors that are already working well, like paper and cardboard.
United Steelworkers District 4, which represents workers in the pulp and paper industry in New York, warned that the proposal would impose unnecessary mandates on a sector that already maintains strong recycling rates and sustainable practices.
“The current market for paper-based packaging is natural, renewable, sustainable, highly recoverable and recyclable, and biodegradable,” wrote USW District 4 Director David Wasiura in a memorandum to lawmakers. “We reiterate that the EPR effort, specifically for paper-based packaging products, is a regressive solution in search of a problem.”
The unions also cited proposed restrictions affecting materials used in aluminum cans and plastic beverage containers, warning that the legislation could disrupt beverage distribution and manufacturing operations throughout the state, risking jobs.
New Yorkers for Better Recycling is a coalition brought together and sponsored by the American Beverage Association representing non-alcoholic beverage industry which employs more than 15,000 people and provides over $1.5 billion in wages and benefits.
