Solid Waste & Plastics

New Yorkers generate 4.5 lbs of waste per person per day– almost 44 thousand tons daily– and our landfills are stretched to capacity. In addition, the plastic pollution crisis is wreaking havoc on our environment, waterways, wildlife and impacting our health. To address this challenges, we need strong policies that address the fundamental problems in the design of our waste and recycling systems and turn off the faucet of unnecessary single-use plastic products.

EANY advocates for policies that: ban single-use products such as plastic bags, straws, water bottles, and polystyrene containers; encourage consumers to reduce or eliminate their waste; hold manufacturers responsible for the lifecycle management of their products and promote circular economy; and sustain, improve and expand upon recycling programs.