Assemblymember Deborah Glick and Sen. Pete Harckham released amendments Monday to their “Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act,” landmark legislation that aims to decrease the use of single-use packaging and require producers to pay for managing plastic waste.
The bill was one of the most lobbied-on pieces of legislation last session, when it passed in the Senate but did not get a floor vote in the Assembly. Glick is not running for reelection, and this bill has been one of her signature issues.
The amended version of the legislation tones down the bill language from last session, including extending compliance timelines, decreased penalties and narrowing the list of banned chemicals.
Neither environmental nor industry advocates are supportive of the changes. Environmental groups are critical of the concessions, while industry groups say they don’t go far enough.
