On Tuesday, May 19, the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) traveled to Albany for a Hill Day with New York state legislators to discuss the impacts of extended producer responsibility (EPR) proposals on the paper and paper-based packaging industry, including affordability concerns and the inclusion of commercial packaging.
One of the key EPR bills discussed with members is New York’s Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA) (Senate Bill S1464A and Assembly Bill A1749A). The bill poses significant affordability concerns for New Yorkers without delivering meaningful recycling benefits for paper. Additionally, PRRIA was amended to expand the EPR program to include commercial packaging, making paper-based packaging—despite its already high recycling rates—more expensive to recycle.