On this month's edition of connect New York, we are discussing the state's growing trash problem and considering how we might be able to reduce, reuse or recycle our way out of it.

All that and more coming up next.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO CONNECT-NEW YORK, I'M DAVID LOMBARDO - HOST OF WCNY'S THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM, A DAILY PUBLIC RADIO SHOW, BROADCASTING FROM THE STATE CAPITOL.

NEW YORKERS PRODUCE - ON AVERAGE - MORE THAN 4.5 POUNDS OF TRASH PER DAY - ACCORDING TO STATE FIGURES - AND MOST OF THAT WASTE ENDS UP IN LANDFILLS, WHERE IT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

DESPITE THE BEST INTENTIONS OF CONSUMERS, EFFORTS TO REDUCE WASTE HAVE NOT RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIVE PROGRESS IN THE EMPIRE STATE, IN FACT - BY SOME METRICS - WE'RE HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION OVER THE LAST DECADE.

SO WE WANTED TO EXPLORE WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO REDUCE OUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO LANDFILLS, AND TO DO THAT WE'RE JOIEND IN THE STUDIO BY KEN POKALSKY, A VICE PRESIDENT WITH THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF NEW YORK STATE, AND STATE SENATOR RACHEL MAY, A SYRACUSE DEMOCORAT.

AND JOINING US REMOTELY, WE HAVE DAWN TIMM, DIRECTOR OF THE NIAGARA COUNTY REFUSE DISPOSAL DISTRICT, AND RESA DMINO, MANAGING PARTNER AT THE SIGNALFIRE GROUP.

AS SOMEONE DAWN, AS SOMEONE WHO DEALS WITH WASTE ON THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL, I'M HOPING YOU CAN TALK TO US ABOUT SOME OF THE LOGISTICAL AND FINANCIAL CHALLENGES CREATED BY THE GARBAGE NEW YORKERS GENERATE.

>> CERTAINLY, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION TO LEAD US OFF WITH.

ULTIMATELY NEW YORK STATE HAS A POLICY IN PLACE THAT REQUIRES THAT RECYCLING SERVICES MEADE TO BE OFFERED WHERE MARKETS EXIST THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH WASTE SERVICES.

SO IF YOU ARE PROVIDING CURB SIDE TRASH COLLECTIONS, IF MARKETS EXIST, YOU MUST PROVIDE CUSH SIDE RECYCLING COLLECTION.

THE CHALLENGE IS THAT CUSH SIDE RECYCLING PRODUCTION HAS GOTTEN INCREASE ILY EXPENSIVE, SO MUCH FAR THAT IT FAR EXCEEDS THE WASTE OF DISPOSAL AND ULTIMATELY THE SYSTEM IS UPSIDE DOWN.

THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS THAT GO INTO IT BUT THAT'S THE BASIC RUDIMENTARY ECONOMICS OF BEING A MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDING THAT SERVICE.

THERE, OF COURSE, IS GENERATION, THERE IS MARKETS, TYPE OF PRUBLGHTDS AND RECYCLABILITY AND A LOT OF CONFUSION OUT THERE AMONGST CONSUMERS.

BUT I CAN STOP THERE.

>> I'M CURIOUS, DAWN, AS A COUNTY, WHAT IS YOUR CAPACITY TO TAKE ON DIFFERENT ISSUES, WHETHER IT IS WASTE DESPICABLE OR RECYCLING AND HOW ARE YOU LIMITED TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, BASED ON YOUR CAPACITY AND MAYBE YOUR STATUTORY AUTHORITY?

>> CERTAINLY.

WE ARE LIMITED IN THE END FACILITY, RIGHT?

SO THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH I LIVE NIAGARA COUNTY, JUST NORTH OF BUFFALO, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLICLY OWNED FACILITIES THAT ARE OPERATING SO WE RELY PREDOMINANTLY ON PRIVATE LANDFILL CAPACITY, PRIVATE INCINERATOR CAPACITY AND PRIVATE RECYCLING PROCESSING.

AND A LOT OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT.

THERE ARE SOME PUBLIC AUTHORITIES THAT RUN THEIR OWN PROGRAMS, WHETHER THEY HAVE PROIKING PROCESSING OR-- RECYCLING PROCESSING OR LAND DISPOSAL OR INCINERATION.

THERE ARE PRIVATELY OWNED, PUBLICLY OPERATED AND BLANKET SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES.

WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO MUNICIPALITY, YOU KNOW, SORT OF BECOMING NIMBLE AND MANEUVERING BETWEEN OPTIONS, IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE AS IT SOUNDS.

IT'S A VERY CUMBERSOME PROCESS TO FIND AN END USER.

IT'S DRIVEN BY MARKETS AND AVAILABILITY AND OBVIOUSLY TRANSPORTATION.

YOU ARE NOT-- YOU ARE MORE INCLINED TO PAY MORE FOR A FACILITY LOCALLY THAN TO PAY LESS AND HAVE TO TRANSPORT IT.

SO A LOT OF THOSE ECONOMICS COME INTO PLAY.

AND A LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES, YOU KNOW, KIND OF FIND THEMSELVES HANDCUFFED IN THE OPTIONS THAT EXIST IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

AND THAT'S ALL LINK TO THE CAPACITY AS WELL.

>> I DEFINITELY WANT TO TALK ABOUT MARKETS LATER IN THE SHOW, BUT RESA, NOT TO DATE YOU, BUT YOU'VE GOT 30 YEARS OF WASTE EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING WORKING AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, SO WITH THAT BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE PROGRESS - OR LACK OF PROGRESS - WE'RE MAKING - AS A STATE - IN REDUCING OUR WASTE PRODUCTION?

>> YEAH, IT'S BEEN UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVEN'T MADE MORE PROGRESS.

AND I THINK ICE NOT FOR LACK OF TRYING BY FOLKS LIKE DAWN AND THE MANY HARD WORKING MUNICIPAL RECYCLING OFFICIALS AROUND THE STATE.

I THINK THE CHALLENGE IS THAT WE HAVE A HOST OF MUNICIPAL PROGRAMS.

THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT.

THEY'RE QUITE DISJOINTED.

AND THERE IS NOT REALLY ANY SORT OF CENTRAL METHOD OF ORGANIZING OUR RECYCLING SYSTEM IN NEW YORK STATE.

AS YOU KNOW, IT'S A LARGE STATE.

IT'S A VERY DIVERSE STATE IN TERMS OF DEMOGRAPHICS, IN TERMS OF GEOGRAPHY, AND IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO SERVICES AND MARKETS.

AND SO WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP A CONSISTENT AND RELIABLE SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

AND THAT MEANS THAT WE DON'T HAVE CONSISTENT RECYCLING SERVICES FROM ONE COMMUNITY TO THE NEXT.

AND DAWN POINTED OUT SOME IMPORTANT REASONS FOR THAT.

I THINK ESSENTIALLY THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC CHALLENGES IN THIS MARKETPLACE.

WASTE DISPOSAL CONTINUES TO BE FAIRLY CHEAP, EVEN IN NEW YORK, WHICH IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN MUCH OF THE COUNTRY.

IT'S STILL VERY CHEAP AS COMPARED TO THE COST OF RECYCLING SERVICES.

RECYCLED MATERIALS COMPETE WITH VIRGIN TERMS WHICH ARE HEF LIDS SUBSIDIZED AND MUCH CHEAPER TO PRODUCE, AND SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO COMPETE ECONOMICALLY WHEN YOU HAVE TO COLLECT, SORT, PROCESS, TRANSPORT AND REMANUFACTURE SOMETHING AS OPPOSED TO JUST TAKING MATERIAL OUT OF THE GROUND OR A BYPRODUCT OF THE OIL REFINING PROCESS AND PRODUCING PLASTIC.

SO SO THE ECONOMICS ARE NOT FAVORABLE FOR RECYCLING IN MANY INSTANCES, AND WE HAVE MUNICIPALITIES WITH DIFFERENT CAPABILITIES, DIFFERENT ABILITIES TO INVEST AND THAT SORT OF THING.

SO WHAT WE HAVE WOUND UP WITH IS A DISJOINTED AND A NOT HIGH PERFORMING SYSTEM IN NEW YORK.

AS WE LOOK AT POLICY OPTIONS LIKE EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY, ONE OF THE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES THERE IS TO CREATE A STATEWIDE SYSTEM AND A STATEWIDE FRAMEWORK FOR ORGANIZING AND EXECUTING RECYCLING ACROSS THE STATE THAT ALLOWS FOR MORE CONSISTENT DELIVERY OF SERVICE, ALLOWS FOR CONSISTENT RESOURCES AND INVESTMENT IN THE SYSTEM TO ENSURE THAT EVERY NEW YORKER HAS ACCESS TO RECYCLING AND THAT THOSE RECYCLING PROGRAMS ARE STRONG.

>> KEN WITH THE CAVEAT THAT COMPANIES ARE NOT A MONOLIDS, THINK ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF SOLID WASTE.

>> I CAN DATE MYSELF SAYING I WORKED ON THE NEW YORK STATE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1988.

>> WHICH WAS A GOOD ONE.

>> WHICH WAS INTENDED TO CREATE A CONSISTENT STATEWIDE PROGRAM FOR OR DEALING WITH SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.

AND THAT'S WHERE THE START OF THE MANDATORY CURB SIDE RECYCLING I THINK DAWN MENTIONED EARLIER.

IN ONE OF OUR OBSERVATIONS HERE, AND WE AGREE THAT THE OVERALL SYSTEM TODAY IS DISJOINTED AND CERTAINLY NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS IT COULD BE; IS THAT IN-- NEW YORK CITY WAS A NATIONAL LEADER AT THE TIME IN SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT POLICY.

A LOT OF THINGS THAT WERE PUT INTO STATUTE AND ASSIGNMENTS GIVEN TO STATE AGENCIES, NOW THAT WAS ALMOST 40 YEARS AGO-- HAVE WANED AND WE DON'T PUT THE MONEY INTO IT.

EXAMPLE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT BY STATUTE IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A PROGRAM TO PROMOTE INVESTMENTS IN SECONDARY MARKETS FOR RECOVERY MATERIALS AND THAT PROGRAM HAS BEEN UNSTAFFED AND UNFUNDED FOR 5, 6, P YEARS 67 YEARS OR LONGER.

DEC IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A TEM PROGRAM AND MUNICIPALITIES AND GENERAL PUBLIC ON RECYCLING OPTIONS AVAILABLE PROGRAMS.

AND I DON'T SEE MUCH OF THAT HAPPENING AS WELL.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, AS PART OF THE ALBANY DISCUSSION ON WHAT'S NEXT, INCLUDING E.P.R.

LEGISLATION, ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID WAS CATALOGED ALL THE EXISTING STATUTORY PROGRAMS AROUND SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.

THAT WE THINK HAS BEEN BACK BURNERRED FOR A WHILE NOW.

I THINK IT'S NOT A SURPRISE THAT THE PROGRAMS ARE NOT WORKING AS WELL AS THEY ARE.

BUT I DO AGREE, THERE IS A MARKET DRIVEN PROCESS.

AND RIGHT NOW THE MARKETS DO NOT FAVOR, YOU KNOW, THE RECOVERY REPROCESSING AND RECYCLING OF MOST MATERIALS.

FOR SOME, LIKE ALUMINUM, IT'S-- I THINK SCRAP ALUMINUM IS GOING OVER ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS A TON.

RELATIVELY VALUABLE.

WELL SEGREGATED PLASTICS ARE GOING FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS A TON.

IF YOU CAN GET IT IN THAT FORMAT, THERE IS CERTAINLY A MARKET FOR THAT.

WE HAVE A VERY DIVERSE-- 28-- 2700 MEMBER COMPANIES.

WE HAVE SOME OF EVERYTHING.

WE'VE GOT WASTE MANAGEMENT COMPANIES.

WE'VE GOT CHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS, PLASTIC MANUFACTURERS.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO MAKE CONSUMER GOODS, RETAILERS, ALL THE ABOVE.

I TALK TO THE COMPANIES ABOUT WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCES ARE AND WE'VE HEARD, FOR EXAMPLE, FROM SOME OF OUR RETAIL FIRMS WHO ARE STILL COLLECTING PLASTIC FILM IS THAT THEY HAVE NO PROBLEM FINDING MARKETS FOR IT WHEN YOU CAN COLLECT IT IN A FORM AND FORMAT THAT'S READILY USEABLE BY A SECONDARY MARKET.

WE AGREE.

WE IN THE BUSINESS WORLD DEAL WITH MARKETS ALL THE TIME.

WE KNOW THERE ARE MARKETS OUT THERE AND WE AGREE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE YOU KNOW, NEW INCENTIVES, WHETHER THEY'RE INCENTIVES IN THE FORMS OF MANDATES OR IN THE FORM OF INDUCEMENTS THAT WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB IN MOVING MORE OF THE MATERIAL AWAY FROM DISPOSAL INTO REUSE.

REUSE DEFINED INCLUDING REPROCESSING MATERIALS AND REMANUFACTURING THEM.

>> AND CALCULATING SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT ON THE BACK BURNER, AS YOU DESCRIBED IT, DID YOU HAVE A SENSE OF THE SCOPE OF THE MISSED OPPORTUNITY OVER THE YEARS OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS HARD TO CALCULATE?

>> IT'S REALLY HARD TO SAY.

WE KNOW THE STATE JUST UPDATED IT'S SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN.

WE HAVE A SENSE OF WHERE THE BROAD TRENDS HAVE BEEN.

I THINK YOU KNOW ONE TREND IS THAT WE ARE USING A LOT MORE PACKAGING THAN WE USED TO FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, INCLUDING CONSUMER DEMANDS.

WE HAVE SOME SENSE OF WORDS GOING-- OF WHERE IT'S GOING.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS SOMEWHAT SURPRISED AT, IN DOING A LOT OF GOVERNMENTAL ANALYSIS OVER THE YEARS, IN TIMES WHEN WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY GOOD DATA, HOW I DON'T THINK WE HAVE VERY GOOD DATA ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR WASTE SYSTEMS TODAY.

WE HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT IS BEING COLLECTED IN TERMS OF VOLUME.

WE DON'T OTHER THAN WHAT IS BEING DISPOSED OFF IN REGULATED FACILITIES.

WE DON'T HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE MATERIALS COLLECTED IN THESE SOURCE SEGREGATED, IN THE BLUE BINS.

WHERE IT'S GOING, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH OF IT IS BEING SOLD BACK INTO THE MARKET AND WHAT PRICES.

WHAT IS BEING DISPOSED OFF AT WHAT COST.

I DO THINK THERE IS-- SO IT'S HARD TO-- YOU WOULD THINK THERE IS AN EASY WAY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION AND THERE REALLY ISN'T.

WE DON'T HAVE, I THINK, ENOUGH DATA TO HAVE A GOOD PICTURE.

THE STATE IS INVOLVED IN A NEEDS ASSESSMENT RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE HELPING THE STATE CONTRACTORS COLLECT DATA, AT LEAST REACHING OUT TO COMPANIES TO COLLECT DATA ORGANIZATION WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCES ARE IN TRYING TO MOVE SOURCE SEPARATED MATERIALS BACK INTO THE MARKET.

>> THERE IS A LOT TO UNPACK THERE, SENATOR.

SO AS A POLICYMAKER, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BITE OFF FIRST?

WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE LOW HANGING FRUIT OR IS THIS AN AREA WHERE WE NEED TO GO BIG AND BOLD?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE IS BOTH.

THERE IS SOME LOW HANGING FRUIT, I THINK-- I THINK RETHINKING HOW WE DO OUR WASTE COLLECTION AND MARKETING IS SOMETHING WE'VE GOT TO RETHINK.

BEFORE I EVER RAN FOR OFFICE, MY FIRST GOVERNMENT ROLE WAS ON THE BOARD OF THE OCTOBER RESOURCE RECOVERY AGENCY.

ON THE ONONDAGA COUNTY.

DURING A SIX-YEAR PERIOD WHEN IT WENT FROM BEING A PROFITABLE BUSINESS TO BEING, WE WERE UNDER WATER WITHIN THOSE SIX YEARS, THE WHOLE INTERNATIONAL MARKET FOR RECYCLED MATERIALS FELL APART.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME WHEN I STARTED THERE IS THEY HAD STARTED GOING TO SINGLE STREAM INSTEAD OF SEPARATING GLASS, PLASTIC CARDBOARD, YOU JUST DUMPED IT ALL IN ONE BLUE BIN AND THEY TOOK IT TO THESE MATERIALS RECYCLING FACILITIES WHERE THERE WERE GIGANTIC MACHINES THAT GOLDBERG COULD HAVE DESIGNED THAT WERE DESIGNED TO SEPARATE THEM ALL BACK OUT WITH SPINNERS AND MAGNETS LIKE EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN TO TRY TO SEPARATE THESE MATERIALS.

BUT IN THE PROCESS, THEY GOT WET, THEY GOT CONTAMINATED IN ALL KINDS OF WAYS.

SO THAT NOW WHEN I GO TO THE OWENS ILLINOIS GLASS FACTORY IN MY DISTRICT, THEY WANT RECYCLED GLASS, LITTLE PIECES OF GLASS THAT ARE ALREADY GLASS TO REMAKE INTO GLASS BOTTLE AND JARS BECAUSE IT'S CHEAPER FOR THEM.

IT'S MUCH HARDER TO MAKE VIRGIN GLASS.

BUT THEY CAN'T GET CLEAN CULLETT BECAUSE THE GLASS HAS BEEN CONTAMINATED IN THE PROCESS OF OUR SINGLE STREAM RECYCLING SYSTEM.

SO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE SHOULD REALLY BE FOCUSING ON, WHATEVER THE EPR KIND OF ACTION WE TAKE, IT OUGHT TO INVOLVE FINANCING THE SHIFT BACK TO DUAL STREAM OR MULTI-STREAM RECYCLING SO THAT PEOPLE ARE SEPARATING THOSE DIFFERENT ITEMS BEFORE THEY GET ALL THROWN TOGETHER AND CONTAMINATE EACH OTHER.

SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO THAT'S INEXPENSIVE, BUT IN THE LONG RUN, IT WOULD YIELD MUCH MORE VALUABLE MATERIALS ONCE THEY GET RECYCLED.

>> IT'S ONE THING THOUGH TO ASK NEW YORKERS JUST TO DUMP EVERYTHING INTO THE RECYCLING BIN.

IT'S ANOTHER, AS YOU SAY, TO HAVE THEM PICK OUT THE DIFFERENT PRODUCTS.

IS THERE AN EXPECTATION THAT WE, AS A SOCIETY, ARE UP FOR THAT?

OR ARE WE JUST GOING TO THROW MORE THINGS INTO THE GARBAGE?

>> WELL, I MEAN THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENED AND PEOPLE PUT ALL KINDS OF THINGS IN THE BLUE BIN THAT DON'T BELONG THERE.

>> WISH RECYCLING.

>> EXACTLY.

AND THAT FURTHER CONTAMINATES THE WHOLE SYSTEM SO YOU END UP WITH A LOT LESS USEABLE MATERIAL.

I THINK WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE PEOPLE ARE RECOGNIZING THAT WASTE IS A REAL PROBLEM.

PEOPLE ARE REALLY AWARE OF THE ISSUE OF PLASTICS IN THE OCEAN, FOR EXAMPLE.

HERE IN SYRACUSE, THERE IS A LOT OF AWARENESS THAT THE SENECA MEADOWS LANDFILL WANTS TO EXPAND AND IT'S ALREADY THE TALLEST MANMADE STRUCTURE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK AND IT'S NOT-- LIKE THE FINGER LAKES DO NOT WANT TO BE KNOWN AS THE WASTE CAPITAL OF THE STATE.

THEY WANT TO BE KNOWN AS THE TOURIST CAPITAL OF THE STATE.

SO YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF INCENTIVES TO REDUCE WASTE.

I THINK PEOPLE WILL DO IT.

I HAVE LIVED IN PLACES, EVEN HERE 20 YEARS AGO, PEOPLE WERE SEPARATING THEIR RECYCLING AND IT REALLY WASN'T THAT HARD.

>> SO WE'VE MENTIONED A COUPLE TIMES NOW THE IDEA OF EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY WE REFER TO AS EPR, AND DAWN, IN ADDITION TO YOUR DAY JOB, YOU ARE CHAIR OF THE NEW YORK PRODUCTS STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL WHICH PUTS YOU IN A GOOD POSITION TO GIVE US A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY OR PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP ACTUALLY MEANS.

HOW DOES THIS TYPE OF SYSTEM WORK?

>> CERTAINLY, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO WHAT SENATOR MAY'S COMMENT REGARDING THE TRANSITION FROM, YOU KNOW, A SINGLE STREAM TO A DUAL STREAM.

AND I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, WHAT I BELIEVE THAT THE SENATOR WAS MAKING THE POINT ON IS THAT IT'S ABOUT THE CONVENIENCE AND THE SIMPLICITY AND SORT OF THE LACK OF SOPHISTICATION THAT WE HAVE IN THESE PROGRAMS.

DUAL STREAM ABSOLUTELY WAS SIMPLE IN THE SENSE THAT YOU KNOW, WE TRAINED PEOPLE TO SEPARATE THEIR FIBER FROM THEIR CONTAINERS AND ENDED UP PRODUCING A MUCH CLEANER GLASS CULLET BUT GLASS USE HAS DECLINED OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS AND A PROLIFERATION OF PLASTIC MATERIALS AND CERTAINLY A SOPHISTICATION IN THE PRODUCTS WHERE SINGLE STREAM, YES, IS INEFFICIENT PROCESS TO OBTAIN MORE MATERIAL BUT ALSO INEFFICIENT IN THE BYPRODUCTS IT PRODUCES.

I WANTED TO STATE THAT NEW YORKERS ARE ONLY REALLY RECOVERING 17% OF THE HOUSEHOLD WASTE, AND IRREGARDLESS IF WE CONTINUE WITH THE SINGLE-STREAM PROGRAM OR MAKE ATTEMPTS TO SEPARATE THAT OUT, WE NEED TO BE DOING A MUCH BETTER JOB IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

LESS THAN 20% RECYCLING IS FAR, FAR SHORT OF A NATIONAL AVERAGE AND YOU KNOW, THE MID 30S, AND WE HERE IN NEW YORK, UNDER SWEEPING POLICIES SUCH AS CLCPA HAVE BROADER GOALS AND AMBITIONS THAT WE NEED TO MOVE THAT UP.

THAT BRINGS ME TO TALKING ABOUT EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY , WHERE QUITE SIMPLY IT IS ENGAGING THE MANUFACTURER, THE PRODUCER AND POTENTIALLY RETAILERS IN SOME LOCATIONS OR IN SOME SITUATIONS AND THAT PRODUCT'S END OF LIFE.

INSTEAD OF THE ONE AWAY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OR THE DISPOSABLE FACILITY OR THE FACILITY AND THE USER, WE NEED TO ENGAGE MANUFACTURERS IN THAT PRODUCT AND WE TEND TO HAVE A COUPLE OPPORTUNITIES THAT SEM STEM FROM THAT.

LESS TOXICITY, MOBILELY INCORPORATING MORE RECYCLED CONTENT, MAKING THE MATERIAL MORE ACCESSIBLE TO A CURRENT RECYCLING PROGRAM.

AND IN THE CASE OF PACKAGING EPR, PROVIDING A SUSTAINABLE FUNDING MECHANISM TO FINANCE THE SYSTEM.

>> RESA, IN A PREVIOUS LIFE WITH THE DEC, YOU WORKED ON A SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR NEW YORK AND THERE WAS A PUSH AT THAT TIME TO ADOPT AN EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY SYSTEM AND NOW IN THE MOST RECENT PROPOSAL THERE IS A PUSH FOR EPR FOR SINGLE USE PACKAGING AS WELL AS PAPER AND A VARIETY OF OTHER PRODUCTS, TEXTILES, SHOES, FURNITURE, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.

FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE, HOW IMPORTANT IS EPR FOR ACHIEVING OUR GOALS OF REDUCING WASTE, OR IS IT JUST ONE OPTION FOR REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF WASTE THAT'S OUT THERE?

>> I THINK THE MOST CRITICAL THING TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY IS WHAT DAWN JUST MENTIONED.

IT CREATES A SUSTAINABLE FINANCING MECHANISM FOR THE RECYCLING SYSTEMS WE NEED.

SO, IN SOME INSTANCES, IT MAY LEAD TO WASTE REDUCTION AND WE COULD HAVE A WHOLE CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.

BUT I THINK AT ITS CORE, EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY REQUIRES THE BRAND OR THE MANUFACTURER OF A PRODUCT OR PACKAGE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT PRODUCT OR PACKAGE AT THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE.

THAT RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE FINANCIAL, IT CAN BE OPERATIONAL.

IT'S OFTEN A COMBINATION OF THE TWO.

AND, BUT ESSENTIALLY IT'S A FINANCING MECHANISM TO DEVELOP THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE NEED TO COLLECT, PROCESS AND RECYCLE MATERIALS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW HOW TO RECYCLE CARPET.

WE KNOW HOW TO RECYCLE PAINT.

WE KNOW HOW TO RECYCLE BATTERIES.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENTITIES READY TO PAY FOR THAT.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN'T AFFORD THAT.

OFTEN THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE ATTENTION OR THE ENERGY TO DO IT.

AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE STAFF, THEY DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITIES TO DO THAT.

AND SO EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY BASICALLY CREATES A RESPONSIBLE ENTITY AND A FINANCING STREAMS TO IMPLEMENT THE SOLUTIONS THAT WE KNOW EXIST.

SO IT'S ABSOLUTELY A CRITICAL PIECE OF THE PIE.

IS IT THE ONLY PIECE OF THE PIE?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS WE NEED TO BE DOING.

WE NEED TO BE BUYING MORE RESPONSIBLY.

WE NEED TO BE EDUCATING PEOPLE.

WE NEED TO BE USING LESS.

WE NEED TO BE REUSING MORE.

WE NEED TO BE SHARING THINGS.

WE NEED TO BE, YOU KNOW, DOING THE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES THAT ARE OUT THERE TO REDUCE OUR WASTE AND LIVE MORE SUSTAINABLEBLY BUT EPR IS A CRITICAL, CRITICAL POLICY TOOL FOR CREATING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE TO ESSENTIALLY COLLECT, SORT, PROCESS AND RECYCLE THE MATERIALS THAT WE ARE GENERATING TO MAKE SURE THEY MAKE IT BACK INTO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY SO THAT WE ARE USING THOSE MATERIALS AGAIN AND AGAIN AND ELIMINATING OR REDUCING THE IMPACT OF THE MATERIALS THAT WE ARE USING.

>> CAN I ADD TO THAT.

I THINK THE OTHER KEY ISSUE IS THAT FOR 100 YEARS, BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN CREATING THESE MATERIALS ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE END PRODUCT WOULD JUST GO AWAY AND THE MUNICIPALITIES AND THEIR TAXPAYERS WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE WASTE.

AND WHEN YOU PUT THE ONUS BACK ON THE PRODUCERS, THEY'RE GOING TO START THINKING ABOUT HOW DO I MAKE THIS SOMETHING THAT IS EASILY RECYCLABLE OR EASILY REUSABLE OR NON-TOXIC FOR DISPOSAL.

AND IT WILL CHANGE-- AND WE'VE SEEN THAT WITH A NUMBER OF PRODUCTS-- IT CHANGES THE WAY THEY MAKE THE PRODUCTS IN THE FIRST PLACE IN WAY THAT ARE MUCH MORE BENIGN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND POTENTIALLY MORE PROFITABLE AT THE-- YOU KNOW, AS YOU CREATE THAT CIRCULAR ECONOMY.

SO IT'S GOT A REALLY IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN GETTING THE PRODUCERS TO REALLY THINK THROUGH WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THIS MATERIAL.

>> I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT.

I ALSO WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT KEN WAS MENTIONING ABOUT THE NEW YORK STATE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT.

I THINK THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1988 I BELIEVE IT WAS, THE WORLD THAT WE WERE OPERATING IN THEN WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN IT IS NOW; NOT ONLY WITH THE VARIETY OF PRODUCTS AND PACKAGING THAT WE HANDLED IN OUR LIFE IN OUR DAILY LIFE.

BUT ALSO HOW THE WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING SYSTEM OPERATED.

AT THAT POINT IN TIME, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OR COUNTY GOVERNMENTS TYPICALLY HANDLED WASTE AND THEY OPERATED THEIR OWN LANDFILLS AND HAD ALL OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE WAS OPERATED BY THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

OVER THE LAST 30 OR 40 YEARS, THAT WHOLE SYSTEM OF WASTE COLLECTION, DISPOSAL, RECYCLING COLLECTION, PROCESSING, HAS LARGELY BEEN PRIVATIZED.

WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK STATE THAT STILL OPERATE THEIR OWN COLLECTIONS, SORTING, PROCESSING, DISPOSAL SYSTEMS.

BUT NOT VERY MANY.

AND SO THE SYSTEM THAT CREE THAT WE CREATED IN THE SOLTD MANAGEMENT ACT DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR MEETING THOSE RECYCLING TARGETS DON'T OWN AND OPERATE THE INFRASTRUCTURE ANYMORE.

AND AS DAWN SAID, THEY CAN'T REALLY INFLUENCE WHAT SERVICES THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS READY TO PROVIDE.

AND SO THE WHOLE WORLD HAS CHANGED.

AND WE NEED A POLICY STRUCTURE THAT KEEPS UP WITH WHERE THE MARKETS AND WHERE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND WHERE OUR SYSTEMS ARE TODAY, NOT WHERE WE WERE, YOU KNOW, IN 1988 OR IS THE 90.

-- OR 1990.

>> IS EPR SOMETHING WE KNOW THAT WORKS IN REALITY OR THIS IS JUST A THEORETICAL DISCUSSION BECAUSE HERE IN ALBANY, THERE IS AN EFFORT TO IMPOSE AN EPR SYSTEM ON SINGLE USE PLASTIC PACKAGING SO THAT HASN'T ACTUALLY TAKEN EFFECT.

THERE IS A PROGRAM ON CARPETS THAT SCHEDULED TO TAKE EFFECT, I BELIEVE IN THE SUMMER OF 2026.

SO ARE THERE ANY EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAMS ALREADY IN NEW YORK OR WORKING AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF THAT THAT SUGGEST THAT YES, THIS CAN ACTUALLY BEEN DONE SUCCESSFULLY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN CERTAINLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY THERE IS A BROAD RANGE OF PRODUCTS THAT ARE COVERED AND THOSE PRODUCTS CHANGE ALMOST ANNUALLY.

AND IT REALLY LOOKS AT, YOU KNOW, SORT OF THE POLITICAL CLIMATE AND RN THE POLITICAL WILL FOR THAT IN EACH SPECIFIC STATE.

BUT IN NEW YORK, WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH EPR; FOR EXAMPLE, THE BOTTLE BILL IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF EPR WHERE YOU HAVE BOTTLERS PAYING THE 3.5 CENTS WHICH THEN GOES TO THE RETAILERS UPON COLLECTION AND REDEMPTION IN EXCHANGE FOR THE NICKEL.

I MEAN THAT HAS BEEN IN EFFECTS SINCE 1982 I BELIEVE, 1983 WITH AMENDMENT AS LONG THE WAY.

HOW ABOUT LEAD ACID BATTERIES AND MOTOR OIL, YOU KNOW, LOOKING, AND YOU MENTIONED CARPET.

WE HAVE HAD SUCCESS WITH PAINT RECENTLY.

AND A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN RETAIL LOCATIONS FOR PAINT DROPOFF.

WE ALSO HAVE NEW YORK'S ELECTRONICS ACT, YOU KNOW, MANAGING E WASTE WHERE PRODUCERS ARE FUNDING A NET WOULD, THAT TAKE BACK ALL OF OUR STRONG ELECTRONICS AND THAT HAS A DISPOSAL BAND.

WE HAVE CAPTURED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF E-WASTE AND SUCH AN EXPANDING WASTE STREAM, YOU KNOW, FROM A LIFE, END OF LIFE IN A LANDFILL OR INCINERATOR WHERE WE CAN'T HARVEST ANYTHING FOR CIRCULATOR PURPOSES.

>> THE CARPET LAW PASSED IN 2023, I THINK IT WAS THE 12TH EPR NEW YORK STATE HAS.

WE CAN DEFINITELY SAY THEY WORK IN THAT YOU ARE REQUIRING COMPANIES TO FINANCE A PROGRAM TO MOVE THINGS OUT OUT OUT OF THE WASTE STREAM, AND DISPOSE OF THEM IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

I THINK THE MAJOR-- AND BY THE WAY, GOING BACK TO THE '88 SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT, MY POINT IS THAT THAT WAS-- MY POINT IS THAT THAT IS NOT THE ONLY LAW WE NEED.

WE HAVE MADE COMMITMENTS IN IMPROVING THE MANAGEMENT OF SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING THAT WE GAVE UP ON AS A STATE.

I DO THINK EVEN UNDER AN EPR PROGRAM, I DO THINK THERE IS A ROLE FOR THE STATE TO SUPPORT THE ACTIVITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES, TO SUPPORT MARKET DEVELOPMENT FOR SECONDARY MATERIAL REUSERS THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ON THE TABLE AS PART EFFORT E-- AS PART OF THE EPR DISCUSSIONS YOU THE BUT THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 12 LAWS WE HAVE PASSED SO FAR AND WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED ON THE PACKAGING EPR, IS I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE OTHER 12 DICTATE CHANGES IN THE PRODUCTS THAT GO INTO THE SYSTEM.

THERE MAY BE PIECES OF IT, BUT THAT'S NOT THE FOCUS OF THE OTHERS THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH.

HERE, THOUGH, IN THE EPR BILL'S PROPOSED FOR NEW YORK STATE AND NOW FIVE OTHER STATES HAVE ADOPTED SOMETHING, NOT IMPLEMENTED THEM YET.

THERE IS SPECIFIC RURMTSZ THAT CHANGE-- THERE ARE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS THAT MANDATE CHANGES IN THE WAY THAT PRODUCERS MAKE PACKAGING, WHAT THEY MAKE THEM OUT OF.

SO IT'S A FAR BROADER SCOPE PROGRAM THAN ANY EPR TYPE OF LAW WE HAVE PASSED SO FAR.

I WILL SAY, BUSINESS COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, WE ARE BROAD-BASED ORGANIZATION.

WE ARE PART OF A COALITION NOW THAT HAS ALMOST 140 BUSINESSES AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS THAT IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH NEW YORK STATE TO DO A PACKAGING EPR LAW.

WE WILL DEBATE WHETHER THAT'S THE PERFECT WAY TO GO BOUGHT THAT'S THE WAY THE STATE IS COMMITTED TO GO.

WE ARE AT THE TABLE WORKING AS PART OF THE NATIONAL BRANDS THAT HAVE BEEN AT THE TABLE IN MAINE AND COLORADO AND CALIFORNIA AND OREGON AND MOST RECENTLY MINNESOTA.

SO WE HAVE FIVE STATE LAWS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT DO GENERALLY SPEAKING WHAT NEW YORK STATE WANTS TO DO IN A PACKAGING EPR LAW.

I THINK WE HAVE SEEN THEM EVOLVE.

I THINK FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WE HAVE SEEN MAYBE SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROGRAM DESIGN.

WE THINK WE CAN WRITE A STATUTE THAT CREATES A PACKAGING EPR PROGRAM THAT WILL DO BETTER, CERTAINLY BETTER THAN WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY.

IT WILL NOT BE SIMPLE AS YOU ARE HEARING.

THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE-- BECAUSE WE TALK TO COMPANIES LIKE OUR GLASS COMPANIES-- WHO COULD TODAY USE MORE RECYCLED CULLETT IF IT WAS AVAILABLE TO THEM IN THE RIGHT QUALITY AND PRICE.

BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE ACROSS THE BOARD.

SO THERE IS MARKET GROWTH THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AS PART OF THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHILE MOST OF THESE BILLS THAT, THE LAWS THAT HAVE PASSED SO FAR, REALLY TELL THE PRODUCERS, COME TOGETHER, PUT TOGETHER A PLAN AND YOU ARE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND FINANCING SOME MUNICIPAL EXPENSES, AND BY THE WAY, PROMOTING THE GROWTH IN THE SECONDARY MATERIAL MARKET; THINGS THAT HISTORICALLY WOULD I SAY WERE MORE GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTIONS.

SO EVEN UNDER THE BEST DESIGNED LAW, I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT LEARNING CURVE AND SOME CHALLENGES TO MAKE ANY OF THESE STATEWIDE PROGRAMS WORK.

FROM WHAT I KNOW, COLORADO IS THE FURTHEST ALONG IN THEIR PLANNING PROCESS.

THE PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY ORGANIZATION, THE P.R.O., THE ORGANIZATION OF PACKAGING MATERIALS, PACKAGING PRODUCERS THAT HAVE COME TOGETHER, THEIR PLAN HAS BEEN DRAFTED AND PRESENTED TO THE STATE OF COLORADO.

I BELIEVE THE STATE OF COLORADO HAS ADOPTED ITS IMPLEMENTATION RULES BUT IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET.

OF THE FIVE STATES THAT HAVE ACTED, THEY'RE THE FURTHEST ALONG.

WE ARE WATCHING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE OTHER STATES VERY CLOSELY TO SEE WHAT UNEXPECTED HICCUPS OR ROAD BLOCKS OR CHALLENGES THEY'RE RUNNING ACROSS AS THEY TRY TO DESIGN THE PROGRAMS THAT NEW YORK STATE WANTS TO ADOPT.

>> I WANT TO HEAR FROM STATE SENATOR PETE HARCKHAM.

WE TALKED TO HIM IN HIS OFFICE AT THE CAPITOL.

HE CARRIES THE BILL THAT WOULD IMPOSE AN EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY SYSTEM ON SINGLE USE PLASTIC PACKAGING.

AND HE SORT OF ADDRESSED EFFORTS TO BRING THE DIFFERENT SIDES TOGETHER.

HERE IS THAT CLIP.

>> THE GOAL IS TO NOT BE DISRUPTIVE AND TO WORK WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID WAS WE EXEMPTED MUCH OF NEW YORK STATE AG, PARTICULARLY THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

IN FACT THIS MORNING, I WAS AT A SMALL DAIRY COOPERATIVE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN EXEMPTED BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP OF SHIFTING THE MACHINERY OVER TO GLASS.

SO IT'S REALLY A CASE OF WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS.

MANY COMPANIES ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO THIS ON IS THERE ANY OWN AND MANY COMPANIES HAVE JUST DUG THEIR HEELS IN THE SAND AND SAY THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IT WHICH IS WHY WE ARE DOING IT LEGISLATIVELY.

THE GOAL IS OVER 12 YEARS TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF SINGLE-USE PLASTIC IN THE PACKAGING ABY 30% ACROSS A COMPANY'S PRODUCT LINE.

YOU COULD DO 50% IN ONE PRODUCT AND 0 IN THE OTHER PRODUCT.

WE ARE WORKING WITH COMPANIES AND LISTENING TO THEM AND THAT'S THE HALLMARK OF ALL LEGISLATION, REALLY, IS LISTENING TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS WHETHER THEY AGREE OR DISAGREE.

>> AND I BELIEVE ONE OF OUR REMOTE GUESTS WANTED TO CHIME IN, RESA YOU ARE SMILING AT ME.

I GUESS IT WAS YOU.

>> IT WAS ME.

I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT EVERY INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD USES EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY FOR PACKAGING AS A KEY POLICY TOOL.

SO KEN IS CORRECT IN POINTING OUT THAT THERE ARE FIVE STATES THAT HAVE PASSED LAWS IN THE UNITED STATES AND THEY'RE ALL IN DIFFERENT STAGES OF IMPLEMENTEDDATION WITH COLORADO BEING THE FURTHEST ALONG, OREGON RIGHT BEHIND THEM.

BUT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS NEW OR DIFFERENT.

WE HAVE LOTS OF EXPERIENCE ACROSS CANADA, ACROSS EUROPE, ASIA, SO THERE IS LOTS OF UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THESE SYSTEMS WORK.

NO QUESTION IT'S GOING TO BE COMPLEX.

SOLVING A HUGE PROBLEM LIKE THE PACKAGING WASTE PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE HARD.

IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.

AND-- BUT WE ARE UP FOR THE CHALLENGE AND THE EPR POLICY PROVIDES THE FRAMEWORK THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT CHALLENGE.

>> CAN I ALSO JUMP IN AND SAY A LOT OF THE LARGE COMPANIES ARE FINDING THAT THEY'RE UNDER PRESSURE FROM THEIR STOCKHOLDERS TO SHIFT TO MORE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES TO HAVE MORE RECYCLED MATERIALS; FOR EXAMPLE, THE BOTTLERS, YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED, SPRITE NO LONGER COMES IN A GREEN BOTTLE.

IT'S A CLEAR BOTTLE WITH A GREEN LOGO ON IT BECAUSE THE GREEN BOTTLES WERE REALLY HARD TO RECYCLE BUT THE CLEAR ONES ARE MUCH EASIER AND AS THE COMPANIES ARE TRYING TO BE ABLE TO BRAG THAT THEY ARE USING RECYCLED MATERIALS, THEY'RE SELLING RECYCLED BOTTLES, THEY'RE FIGURING OUT HOW TO PRODUCE THEM DIFFERENTLY SO THAT CIRCLE CAN BE MADE.

AND I THINK WE WILL SEE THAT SOME OF THEM NEED A NUDGE, BUT WE WILL START TO SEE THAT IT GETS EASIER AND EASIER AS YOU-- ONCE THAT NUDGE IS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE DIFFERENT PACKAGING THAT THEY ARE PRODUCING.

THEY'RE GOING TO REDESIGN THE PACKAGING AND IT'S GOING TO END UP BEING BETTER ALL THE WAY AROUND, YOU KNOW, MORE USEABLE.

>> AS I SAID, WE ARE PART OF A COALITION WITH NATIONAL BRANDS, TRYING TO WORK ON-- WE HAVE WORKED IN FIVE OTHER STATES NOW AND WE ARE PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT PRODUCE THE EPR BILL.

WE CERTAINLY INTEND TO BE AT THE TABLE IN NEW YORK AS WELL.

I THINK THE KEY THING FOR US IS THAT A NUDGE OR A SHOVE, AND ARE -- FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, IS IT A WORKABLE SET OF MANDATES?

DO THE COMPANIES HAVE A REAL SAY IN HOW THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED?

IS THERE ADEQUATE SURVEILLANCE AND RESPONSE?

I MEAN THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, A STATE DEMANDS SOMETHING BE DONE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THE MARKET CAN DO IT ON THE TIMETABLE SO IS THERE FLEXIBILITY BUILT INTO THE STATUTE?

I KNOW THE SPONSORS OF THE CURRENT EPR BILL IN NEW YORK STATE SAYS IT IS.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE PRESENTED TO THEM OUR ANALYSIS OF THEIR LANGUAGE AND IT'S NOT AS FLEXIBLE AS THEY THINK IT IS.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, I AGREE WITH WHAT THE SENATOR SAID, THAT MOST-- I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF THERE IS A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY THAT DOESN'T HAVE A SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM IN MAKING COMMIT THEMENTS AND-- COMMITMENTS AND THOSE IN THE TANGIBLE PRODUCTS WORLD ARE MAKING COMMITMENTS TO IMPROVING, YOU KNOW, THE SUSTAINABILITY AND THE IMPACTS OF THEIR PRODUCT LINES.

SO THE INTEREST IS THERE.

THE COMMITMENT IS THERE.

IT'S A MATTER OF, YOU KNOW, AS YOU HEAR THIS COMPLICATED SUBJECT, THE DEVIL IS ALWAYS IN THE DETAILS.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY ON THAT NOTE, WE COME BACK TO EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY AND AS WE HAVE SEEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND CERTAINLY THE WORLD AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU KNOW, OUR CANADIAN NEIGHBORS, IS THAT IT'S AN EFFECTIVE CATALYST FOR CHANGE.

DAVID, YOU MENTIONED THAT WE AS NEW YORKERS ARE PRODUCING 4.5 POUNDS OF TRASH PER PERSON PER DAY.

I MEAN THAT RATE HAS BEEN THERE AND FLUCTUATES, THE SAME SINCE I HAVE ENTERED THIS FIELD AND HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOREVER, FOR 20 YEARS.

WE NEED TO BE DOING BETTER.

AND WHETHER YOU ARE A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY OR MANAGING A SMAWP MUNICIPAL PROGRAM, WE HAVE A WASTE PROGRAM AND WE NEED A LOT OF PLAYERS AT THE TABLE TO PROMULGATE CHANGE.

AND YOU KNOW, TO KEN'S POINT, YEAH, BRINGING IT FROM THE BUSINESS COUNCIL'S PERSPECTIVE, IS IT A PUSH OR A SHOVE, I KNOW WE ALL AGREE THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

BUT EPR FOR PACKAGING IN NEW YORK, YOU KNOW, WE ARE TACKLING A REALLY COMPLEX ISSUE THAT HAS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF-- I KIND OF LIKEN IT TO THE MYTHICAL CREATURE OF A HYDRA.

IT HAS A LOT OF HEADS TO IT.

WE CAN STABILIZE MARKETS.

WE CAN STIMULATE POST-CONSUMER CONTENT REQUIREMENTS.

WE CAN STIMULATE RECYCLING.

WE CAN NORMALIZE OUR COSTS.

AND WHEN COSTS ARE LOWERED, FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THAT IS ALSO EFFECT ITCH AS A TAXPAYER AND AS A CONSUMER.

SO IN THE END, WE ARE TAKING A BIG CHUNK OUT OF A REALLY LARGE PROBLEM IN NEW YORK.

AND ONE THAT HAS BEEN SORT OF AMPLIFIED WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE CLIMATE LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT.

WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT WASTE.

AND WE REALLY NEED TO ENGAGE OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND GET ALL INTERSTATE STAKE HOLDERS TO THE TABLE AND HASH THRUT THEIR POLICIES AND DETAILS AND PROMOTE CIRCULATOR IN THE STATE.

IT JUST MAKES SENSE.

AND WE ARE STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THE CHANGE.

AS WE START TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND WE SEE THE FIVE STATES HAVE PASSED SIMILAR POLICY, YOU MIGHT START TO NOTICE AMAZON ENVELOPES OR SOME OF THE SHIPPING PRODUCTS YOU RECEIVE IN YOUR HOME ARE TRANSITIONING TO FIBER BASED FROM PLASTIC BASED BECAUSE IT'S BECOMING IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.

AND WITH CALIFORNIA AND OREGON AND WASHINGTON IN DISCUSSION, BUT COLORADO, AMANA AND NOW MINNESOTA, PACKAGERS, MAJOR GLOBAL CORPORATIONS ARE NOT JUST GOING TO JUST CHANGE THE PACKAGING IN THE STATES.

THEY'RE GOING TO CHANGE IT FOR THE COUNTRY AND THE REGION.

>> WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC BUT FIRST I WANT TO TAKE A BREAK FROM OUR DISCUSSION ON SOLID WASTE TO HIGHLIGHT THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM OF FOOD WASTE IN NEW YORK WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF A 2019 STATED LAW DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT LESS FOOD ENDS UP IN LANDFILLS AND MORE OF IT ENDS UP GETTING DONATED TO HUNGRY NEW YORKERS OR DISPOSED OF IN ORGANIC RECYCLERS.

THIS MANDATED EFFORT HAS BEEN IN EFFECT FOR TWO YEARS, AND COULD BE EXPANDING ITS FOOTPRINT IN THE EMPIRE STATE.

DEPENDING ON WHAT THE GOVERNOR DOES MOVING FORWARD.

CONNECT NEW YORK PRODUCER ALEC AMBRUSO HAS THAT STORY.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE FOOD DENATION SCRAPS RECYCLING BILL YOU SPONSOR?

>> WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS EXPANDS THE EXISTING LAW PASSED IN 2021.

THE ORIGINAL LAW REQUIRED COMPANIES TO SET UP A SYSTEM WHERE THRE DIVERT WHAT IS USEABLE TO FOOD PANTRIES OR, IF IT'S NOT USEABLE, IT NEEDS TO GO TO A COMPOSTER OR DIGESTER.

>> GENERATE UPCYCLES MISSION IS TO DERIVE VALUE OUT OF DIFFERENT WASTE MATERIALS AND WE DO THAT WITH DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS AND TECHNOLOGY.

ANAEROBIC DIGESTION, COMPOSTING AND A WASTE WATER TREATMENT PROCESS.

THIS FACILITY DOES ANAEROBIC DIGESTION AND WHAT WE DO IS TAKE IN FOOD WASTE FROM AROUND 40 DIFFERENT CUSTOMERS THROUGHOUT, PRIMARILY NEW YORK STATE, AROUND 90,000 TONS PER YEAR.

AND WE TURN THAT INTO A COUPLE DIFFERENT PRODUCTS.

WE TURN THAT INTO A LIQUID FERTILIZER USED ON LOCAL FARMS.

A RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS WHICH IS INJECTED INTO THE PIPELINE TO REPLACE FOSSIL-BASED NATURAL GAS AND ELECTRICITY, WHICH IS SOLD TO THE LOCAL UTILITY.

AN ROMAN CATHOLICKIC DIGESTION IS A-- ANAEROBIC DIGESTION IS A BIOLOGICAL PROCESS WHERE WE TAKE FOOD WASTE, ORGANIC WASTE AND SEPARATE OUT ANYTHING NOT ORGANIC LIKE PLASTIC PACKAGING OR ALUMINUM CANS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

ORGANIC MATERIAL OR FOOD BASED MATERIAL GOES INTO THE DIGESTER AND SITS THERE FOR 30 DAYS AND IN THAT TANK THAT IT SITS IN, THERE ARE BACTERIA WHICH EAT UP FOOD WASTE AND BASICALLY FART OUT METHANE AND THAT METHANE IS CAPTURED AND USED TO GENERATE ENERGY.

>> I THINK WE SEE ORGANICS RECYCLING AS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A MIX OF TECHNOLOGY.

WE CERTAINLY WANT IT OUT OF LANDFILLS BUT IT MIGHT BE COMPOSTING THAT MAKES MORE SENSE IN ONE AREA BECAUSE IT'S A SMALLER AMOUNT OF MATERIAL.

IT MAY MAKE MORE SENSE IN ANOTHER REGION TO HAVE ANAEROBIC DIGESTION BECAUSE THERE IS A FARM THERE OR WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT THAT COULD DIGEST AND USE.

SO WE THINK IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A MIXTURE OF TECHNOLOGIES, MORE LOCAL SPECIFIC.

BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY TECHNOLOGIES OUT THERE TO HANDLE ALL THE ORGANICS THAT WE GENERATE.

>> IN NEW YORK STATE, 2.6 MILLION NEW YORKERS DEAL WITH FOOD INSECURITY.

750,000 OF THEM ARE CHILDREN.

SO IF WE CAN DIVERT USEABLE FOOD , ESPECIALLY FRESH PRODUCE, TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRIES, THAT'S A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY.

>> SO FOR WEGMANS, OUR CONNECTION WITH LOCAL OR REGIONAL FOOD BANKS GOES BACK TO THE EARLY 1970s WHICH WE WERE A MUCH SMALLER COMPANY BASED OUT OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK AND WE PARTNERED UP WITH A START-UP COMPANY AT THAT TIME, FOOD LINK, WHICH IS NOW GROWN TO BE THE BIGGEST FOOD DISTRIBUTOR IN THE GREATER ROCHESTER REGION.

AND WE STARTED DONATING PRODUCT FROM OUR STORES, DIRECTLY TO FOOD LINK.

AND WE PARTNER UP WITH THE LOCAL LARGE SCALE FOOD BANKS AND THEY HELP US PARTNER UP WITH A MUCH SMALLER ORGANIZATION THAT THEY MAY BE PARTNERS WITH IN THEIR AREA.

AND THOSE ORGANIZATIONS COME DIRECTLY TO OUR STORES AND WE DONATE PRODUCT TO THEM.

>> WHAT TYPES OF FOODS ARE BEING DONATED?

YOU HAVE KIND OF TRADITIONAL DONATIONS THAT YOU WILL SEE FROM GROCERY AND PLACES LIKE THAT; BUT KIND OF THE BREADS AND THE GRAIN PRODUCTS AND THE BOXED, YOU KNOW, PASTAS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING THE GREAT DEAL OF GROWTH IN IS NEW AREAS OF DONATION, MAINLY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WHICH MAY-- THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY EDIBLE BUT MAY NOT LOOK AS PRETTY AS THEY DID A FEW DAYS AGO.

>> WE DON'T SELL EVERYTHING THAT WE PUT OUT ON OUR CHEFS.

SO THE STUFF THAT WHEN IT REACHES OUR BEST WHEN USED BY-- IT IS STILL PERFECTLY SAFE AND WE WANT TO GET THAT INTO THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT.

WE STRESS TO THE STORES THAT WE DON'T THROW IT OUT.

>> STARTING OFF WE FOUND THAT LARGE GROCERY CHAINS AND COLLEGES WERE THE MOST ATTUNE, MOST UP TO SPEED ON WHAT IS IN THE LAW AND WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO.

SO THEY REALLY HAVE BEEN OUR STARS, IF YOU WILL IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS IN DOING ITSELF THE MOST AND REACHING OUT AND INCREASING THEIR DONATION AND GETTING ON BOARD FOR ORGANICS RECYCLING.

>> WE ALSO HAVE SPACE FOR EXEMPTIONS IN THIS LAW THAT IF IT IS A HARDSHIP FOR A PRODUCER, A GENERATOR OF FOOD WASTE, THEY CAN APPLY FOR AN EXEMPTION.

IN THE LAST YEAR, NOBODY HAS APPLIED FOR A HARDSHIP EXEMPTION.

WAIVERS HAVE NOT BEEN A PROBLEM.

IN THE LAST YEAR, THERE WERE NO APPLICATIONS FOR WAIVERS.

AND I THINK THE PRIOR YEAR THERE WERE ONLY A HANDFUL.

SO IF FOLKS HAVE A HARDSHIP, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE WAIVER PROVISION AND WE TRUST DEC TO REVIEW THOSE APPLICATIONS.

BUT AS OF LAST YEAR, THERE WERE NO REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS.

>> MISS SHIMSKY, AN EXPLANATION IS REQUESTED MA'AM.

>> THRUS.

THIS BILL THIEF HIVE THANK YOU, Mr. SPEAKER, THIS BILL WOULD EXPAND THE FOOD SCRAP AND RECYCLING PROGRAM TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL FOOD SCRAP GENERATORS TO WIT.

IT EXPANDS THE DEFINITION OF FOOD SCRAP GENERATORS TO INCLUDE SINGLE LOCATIONS THAT GENERATE AN AVERAGE WEIGHT OF FOOD SCRAPS OF ONE TON OR MORE BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2026 AND DECEMBER 3 IS, 2027.

AND HAVE TON OR MORE AFTER JANUARY 1, 2028 AND MODIFIES THE MAXIMUM DIFFERENCE FROM 20 TO 5D BE REQUIRED TO BE TRANSPORTED.

>> THE BILL HAS CURRENTLY PASSED BOTH THE SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY, ASSEMBLYMEMBER MARYJANE SHIMSKY CARRIED IT IN THE ASSEMBLY, SUCCESSFULLY PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS.

WE ARE WAITING FOR THE GOVERNOR TO CALL THE BILL AND HOPEFULLY SHE WILL SIGN IT INTO LAW AND WE CAN EXPAND WHAT IS ALREADY A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE PROGRAMS FACILITATING RESIDENTIAL CURB SIDE COLLECTION OF FOOD SCRAPS FROM PEOPLE'S HOMES AND THAT ORGANIC WASTE BEING RECYCLED AT COMPOST SITES OR ANAEROBIC DIGESTERS.

I THINK HAVING THOSE PROGRAMS AT THE HOME LEVEL IN ADDITION TO HAVING THEM AT THE BUSINESS LEVEL, LIKE OUR CUSTOMERS, JUST LIKE TEACHES THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, RECYCLING THEIR ORGANIC WASTE, WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS PRESENT IN PEOPLE'S MINDS CURRENTLY.

>> ANOTHER AREA WHERE WE COULD POTENTIALLY USE FEES TO IMPACT BEHAVIOR IS THIS IDEA OF PAY AS YOU THROW, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT IS CONSIDERED IN THE UPDATED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE IDEA OF MAKING PEOPLE BASICALLY PAY A LITTLE BIT FOR THEIR WASTE IN ORDER TO CHANGE THEIR CONSUMPTION AND DISPOSAL HABITS?

>> YEAH, I MEAN THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN INCENTIVIZE BEHAVIORS.

IF YOU ARE THINKING IN THE EPR WORLD, BOTTLE BILLS INCENTIVIZE US TO RETURN OUR CONTAINERS FOR RECYCLING BY GIVING US THAT NICKELBACK-- NICKEL BACK.

PAY AS YOU THROW IS THE OPPOSITE OF THAT.

BASICALLY SAYS YOU ARE GOING TO PAY A FEE BASED ON HOW MUCH WASTE YOU DISPOSE OFF AND THEREFORE YOU WOULD BE INCENTIVIZE TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WASTE THAT YOU THROW AWAY AND YOU WILL BE INCENTIVIZED TO PARTICIPATE IN YOUR RECYCLING PROGRAM, TO COMPOST YOUR FOOD SCRAPS, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

PAY AS YOU THROW IS PREVENT-- IS POTENTIALLY VERY SUCCESSFUL.

THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES HAVE USED IT EFFECTIVELY.

IN ORDER TO GET THOSE BENEFITS, YOU HAVE TO NOT JUST HAVE THAT PAY AS YOU THROW BUT IT HAS TO BE STRUCTURED CORRECTLY.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT PRICING BE COMMENSURATE, THE PRICING ON THE WASTE BE COMMENSURATE WITH THE VOLUME OR THE AMOUNT THAT YOU THROW AWAY.

YOU NEED TO ALSO PROVIDE RECYCLING AT NO COST, PREFERABLY PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMPOSTING OR ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COMPOST BY PROVIDING INFORMATION AND TOOLS FOR THAT.

I CAN JUST GIVE YOU AN ANECDOTE IN MY COMMUNITY.

IT'S ACTUALLY CHEAPER FOR ME TO THROW AWAY-- IT'S ONLY SLIGHTLY MORE EXPENSIVE TO THROW AWAY A 30-GALLON BAG THAN IT IS TO THROW AWAY A 13-GALLON BAG.

SO I AM ACTUALLY INCENTIVIZED TO WASTE GREATER AMOUNTS.

SO THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF A PAY AS YOU THROW SYSTEM THAT IS NOT STRUCTURED TO PROVIDE THE OUTCOMES THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

BUT THERE IS NO QUESTION IT IS A VIABLE APPROACH.

AND IT'S EFFECTIVE.

THE CHALLENGES THAT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE ALONG WITH OTHER STRONG AND GOOD PROGRAMS LIKE COMPREHENSIVE RECYCLING AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER, COMPOSTING AND OTHER THINGS.

>> CAN I JUMP IN?

I LIVED IN THE NETHERLANDS FOR SIX MONTHS WHERE YOU HAD TO PAY THE EQUIVALENT OF $10 FOR A 13-GALLON BAG TO PUT YOUR TRASH OUT AND THERE WAS COMPREHENSIVE RECYCLING.

THERE WAS COMPOSTING.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT DID WAS IT MEANT WHEN YOU WENT IS TO A STORE AND YOU HAD A CHOICE OF DIFFERENT ITEMS, SOME OF THEM HAD A LOT OF PACKAGING AND SOME HAD LITTLE PACKAGING, YOU CHOSE THE ONES WITH LITTLE PACKAGING BECAUSE YOU WERE THINKING UP FRONT HOW MUCH WASTE IS THIS GOING TO ENTAIL?

HOW MUCH OF MY BAG IS THIS GOING TO FILL?

AND I THINK IT CHANGED THE PACKAGING SYSTEM.

IT HAS CHANGED HOW THE BUSINESSES WERE PRODUCING THEIR GOODS FOR SALE IN STORES AND REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF PACKAGING THAT THEY WERE INCLUDING IN THEIR ITEMS THAT THEY WERE SELLING SO THAT, AGAIN, I TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT, THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY, BUT YOU NEED THOSE SIGNALS TO BE GOING TO THE PRODUCERS THAT THE CONSUMERS WANT LESS PACKAGING.

AND THAT IS ONE WAY TO DO IT THAT I THINK IS PRETTIES EFFECTIVE.

>> IS THAT SYSTEM-- >> THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT, THAT THAT PAY AS YOU THROW IS A CONSUMER RESPONSIBILITY ELEMENT AND IT'S DONE WELL IN COLLABORATION WITH A PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY ELEMENT OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY ELEMENT BUT IF IT'S JUST THE CONSUMERS RESPONSIBILITY, IT IS NOT ENTIRE TIRELY FAIR.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS IDEA OF PUTTING THE ONUS ON THE CONSUMERS, MAKING THEIR POCKETBOOK HIT DIRECTLY SO THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE THE CHOICE WERE WHAT THEY WANT AS OPPOSED TO MANDATING THE BUSINESSES CHANGE THEIR BUSINESS PRACTICES FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

>> I THINK MOST PEOPLE WHO DEAL WITH THE PRIVATE HAULER FOR THEIR GARBAGE HAS A PAY AS YOU THROW SYSTEM TODAY.

>> IT'S A FLAT FEE FOR ME.

I DON'T GET A BENEFIT IF I FILL MY RECYCLING UP VERSUS THE GARBAGE CAN.

>> WE I PAY DIFFERENT WHETHER YOU HAVE A SMALL, MEDIUM OR LARGE CAN.

THE IDEA THAT EPR INSULATES CONSUMERS FROM ALL OF THIS IS THE WRONG ONE BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THE COST THAT PRODUCERS ARE GOING TO INCUR TO REDESIGN THEIR PACKAGING AND MAKE CAPITAL CHANGES AND HELP PAY FOR THE MUNICIPAL SYSTEMS IS ULTIMATELY GOING TO BE REFLECTED IN CONSUMER PRICES SO THE CONSUMERS DEFINITELY HAVE A FINANCIAL STAKE IN THIS.

WE THINK THAT MAKES SENSE.

THERE SHOULD BE SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES BUT THE OVERALL IDEA OF HAVING A GRADIENT OF PRICES BASED ON THE SUSTAINABILITY OF YOUR MATERIALS, SOMETHING THAT IS INGRAINED IN THESE EPR BILLS FOR PACKAGING, AND YOU KNOW, AS WE LOOK AT THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATION, WE SUPPORT THAT.

IF A COMPANY IS PRODUCING MATERIALS THAT ARE HIGHLY RECYCLABLE OR ACHIEVES SOURCE REDUCTION OR, YOU KNOW, MAKES OTHER, YOU KNOW, CHANGES TO THEIR PACKAGING MIX THAT MAKES IT MORE RECYCLABLE OR MORE COMPOSTABLE, THESE LAWS ALL SAY THE FEES THAT THEY PAY INSIDE THAT SYSTEM ARE GOING TO BE REFLECTIVE OF THEIR SUSTAINABILITY.

SO WE BUY INTO IT.

WE THINK MARKET FORCES ARE VERY POWERFUL.

WE THINK THEY'RE VERY EFFICIENT.

SO WE DEFINITELY SUPPORT THE INCLUSION OF THAT PAY AS YOU GO OR, YOU KNOW, PAY BASED ON YOUR IMPACT APPROACH.

>> WE'VE GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT AND DAWN, I JUST WANT TO NOTE A COMPONENT OF THIS SORT OF PAY AS YOU THROW PROGRAM IS THAT SOME OF THE MONEY WOULD GO TO, SAY COUNTIES WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR INTERRING ADMINSTERRING THESE PROGRAMS WITH A MIN NEWS FEE OF 30 MILLION STATEWIDE.

WOULD THAT BE USEFUL REVENUE FOR NIAGARA COUNTY OR ARE YOU GUYS DOING OKAY?

>> I THINK ANY REVENUE THAT COMES BACK TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO MANAGE THEIR WASTE-RELATED PROGRAMS IS BENEFICIAL.

WOULD I WARN THAT PAY AS YOU THROW, OF COURSE, IS A DECISION BASED ON LOCAL AVAILABILITY FOR FACILITIES.

AND DO ECHO RESA'S POINT NEEDS TO BE SUPPORTED BY OTHER WASTE REDUCTION OR ALTERNATIVE OUTLETS.

>> WELL, ON THAT NOTE, THAT IS UNFORTUNATELY ALL THE TIME WE HAVE TODAY.

MY THANKS TO STATE SENATOR RACHEL MAY AND KEN POKALSKY, OF THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF NEW YORK STATE.

AND DAWN TIMM, OF NIAGARA COUNTY, AND RESA DIMINIO RESOURCE RECYCLING SYSTEMS.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO REVISIT THIS EPISODE - OR DIG INTO THE CONNECT NEW YORK ARCHIVES - VISIT WCNY.ORG/CONNECTNEWYORK.

AND FOR MORE STATE GOVERNMENT COVERAGE, CHECK OUT THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM AT CAPITOL PRESSROOM DOT ORG, OR WHERVER YOU DOWNLOAD PODCASTS.

ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE TEAM AT WCNY - I'M DAVID LOMBARDO - THANKS FOR WATCHING.