As a sponsor of the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA), I am responding to your May 28, 2025, article, “Ortt, Senate GOP slams proposed plastics reduction bill.”
Senator Harckham and I have met with dozens of businesses and made numerous amendments in response to industry concerns – including raising the revenue threshold from $1 million to $5 million to ensure small businesses are exempted.
Despite these changes, these same industry groups continue to oppose the bill and spread misinformation, particularly about cost. They often cite a flawed Canadian study that doesn’t reference New York, or the products covered under PRRIA - even though the packaging reduction program in Canada has not raised prices.
This tactic hides industry’s true concern of removing toxi