Support the Packaging Reduction Act to Protect the Great South Bay

Creek Defender Cleanups Reveal the Real Impact of Packaging Waste

Our volunteers work tirelessly to clean up litter along the creeks that feed into the Great South Bay, and we’ve seen firsthand how packaging waste makes up a significant portion of the pollution threatening our waterways.

This past spring alone, the Save The Great South Bay Creek Defender Program:

• Conducted 23 cleanups
• Collected over 10,000 pounds of trash
• Mobilized thousands of volunteers
• Removed countless bags of Styrofoam, plastic wrap, and shipping boxes

This pollution doesn’t just look bad—it harms water quality, marine life, and public health.

How the Packaging Reduction Act Helps Save the Great South Bay

The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, recently passed by the New York State Senate, would significantly reduce waste that could end up in the Bay. It supports and amplifies our Creek Defender mission by addressing the root of the problem: overpackaging and under-regulated producer responsibility.

What the Packaging Reduction Act Will Do:

✅ Hold companies with over $5M in income accountable for their packaging
✅ Require reduction in packaging volume and toxic materials
✅ Shift financial responsibility from taxpayers to producers
✅ Fund municipal recycling programs
✅ Incentivize design of recyclable, sustainable packaging

This systemic solution supports local efforts like ours and helps reduce the amount of trash polluting our creeks and bay.

Now we need your help to get it passed in the New York State Assembly.

Take Action: Contact Your State Assembly members

Tell your representatives to pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act and send it to Governor Hochul!

📞 Assemblyman Michael Durso
📧 dursom@nyassembly.gov
📱 (516) 541-4598

📞 Assemblyman Jarett Gandolfo
📧 gandolfoj@nyassembly.gov
📱 (631) 589-8685

📞 Assemblyman Joe DeStefano
📧 destefanoj@nyassembly.gov
📱 (631) 207-0073

Please deliver a message similar to this:

“Hi, my name is ____ and I’m calling from ______ to urge the Assemblymember to please vote YES on The Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act (A1749) sponsored by Assemblymember Glick before the Assembly adjourns on the 17th. This bill is critical to addressing NY’s solid waste crisis, protecting our environmental justice communities, protecting all of our health by getting highly toxic chemicals like PFAS, lead, PVC, mercury, formaldehyde, toluene, and more out of packaging, meeting the goals in the state’s climate law, saving taxpayers money, and giving recycling a boost.”

Why This Legislation Matters for Recycling and Water Pollution

With our current recycling infrastructure, relying on the public to properly recycle everything isn’t realistic. It’s not always laziness—sometimes it’s just lack of access.

• Only 17% of waste is currently recycled in New York.
• Most packaging waste ends up in landfills or local waterways like the Great South Bay.
• This bill invests in better municipal recycling infrastructure, making it easier and more accessible for everyone.

Help Us Protect the Great South Bay

Our cleanups have shown the scale of the problem—and this legislation gives us a chance to tackle it at its source. Join us in urging the New York State Assembly to pass this vital bill.

Let’s work together to create a cleaner, healthier future for the Great South Bay. The goal is not to do more cleanups — it’s to make them less necessary.