​On June 11, the Hudson 7 unanimously passed a resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (Senate Bill 1464 / Assembly Bill 1749).

This important legislation would require packaging producers, not taxpayers, to cover the costs of managing plastic packaging waste. It is a critical step toward reducing plastic pollution, increasing recycling rates, reducing toxic materials in packaging, protecting public health and drinking water, and saving local governments and taxpayers millions of dollars.

Packaging accounts for approximately 40% of New York’s waste stream, much of which is made up of non-recyclable plastics containing harmful chemicals such as PFAS and phthalates. Microplastics and these associated chemicals have been detected in drinking water sources across the state, raising serious health concerns. The Hudson River, a vital drinking water source for over 100,000 people, has also been found to contain these pollutants.

Hudson 7 is a coalition of five public water systems representing seven municipalities and two counties, all of which depend on the Hudson River as their primary drinking water source. Our mission is to work collaboratively to protect this critical resource for the communities we serve.

We support the passage of the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act and urge legislative leaders to prioritize and advance this critical legislation.

In a letter to Governor Hochul, the Hudson 7 requests that the governor not cut Clean Water Infrastructure and Hudson River funding, and instead commit at least $600 million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act in the SFY 2024-25 budget

"The Executive Budget for New York State contains worrying cuts to environmental funding and environmental law enforcement that the Hudson River and its communities depend on," said Mayor Gary Bassett (Village of Rhinebeck), the chair of the Hudson 7 wrote. "These cuts mean fewer investments in replacing aging water pipes and wastewater treatment plants, a diminished ability to address harmful algal blooms that deplete oxygen in the water and kill fish, fewer communities accessing grants for drinking water protection projects, a reduction in hands-on classroom programs through the Hudson River Estuary Program, and fewer funds to enforce our environmental laws on the ground."

"We believe that strengthening our seven communities and preparing them for the future happens from the ground up, beginning with the infrastructure - underground and often unseen in our day-to-day lives - that conveys clean water to our taps and takes wastewater away from our houses. In our communities, like much of the state, water infrastructure is old and outdated" he wrote. "We support our allies request for a commitment to at least a $600 million investment in the Clean Water Infrastructure Act and oppose any funding raids or cuts to the EPF, Hudson River Estuary Program, and our environmental law enforcement and urge you to keep these key sources of funding to remain in the state budget without any offloads from the previous year."

The public is encouraged to take action out ahead of the budget negotiations that will unfold between the Governor,  Assembly and Senate, leading up to a final budget on April 1st.  Visit Riverkeeper to learn how.