BILL NUMBER: S9330A

SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the general business law, in relation to allowing
certain reusable beverage containers in sports venues

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OR BILL:

To allow patrons at sports venues to use their own reusable beverage
containers which will reduce the use of plastic.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the general business law by adding a new section 391-r.
Section 2 provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Reducing the use of single use plastic bottles will benefit our environ-
              

ment and our health.

A July 2023 article in cleanwater.orgi} describes some of the negative
impacts on our health caused by sindie use plastic. bottles. It sites a
studyiiii conducted by the chemistry department of the State University
of New York at Fredonia which shows that 93* of the plastic bottled
water tested contained harmful chemicals and micrcplastics. Only 17 out
of 259 samples contained no microplastics while one bottle of Nestle
Pure life had concentrations as high as 10,000 plastic pieces per liter.
The National Institute of Healthiiii has linked the presence of EPA
(Biphenyl A) to diabetes, obesity, fertility problems, behavior oroblems
and early puberty in girls due to being an estrogen mimicking chemical.

Billions of single-use plastic bottles are produced every year and only
a small percentage of them are recycled. The United States alone uses
nearly 50 million plastic water bottles each year. Most of these end up
in waterways and landfills and are a major contributor to stermwater
pollution and negative environmental effects. Plastic bottles are one of
the top litter items in the oceans and waterways.  It is estimated that
only 231 of the plastic water bottles purchased in the US. are recycled.

Encouraging the use of reusable water bottles will help improve our
environment by cutting down on waste and litter and it will help improve
our health by reducing exposure to chemicals with detrimental impacts on
our health. Additionally, using reusable water bottles encourages us to
drink more water and it saves us money - it's estimated that a $20 reus-
able water bottle saves each person $6,180 in five vears.

New York City has enacted a law{iv} requiring sports venues to allow
attendees to enter the venue with a reusable beverage container. New
York State should enact this bill into law to ensure this practical
approach with proven environmental and health benefits is encouraged
throughout the state of New York.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become a law.
(i) https://cleanwater.org/2023/7/10/reusable-water- bottlesunderstan-
dingreasons-why-use-them
(ii) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.govipmciarticles/PMC6141690/
(iiii) https://www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/pmc/articies/PMC82305451 (iv}
https://legistar.council.nyc.govaegislationDetail.aspx?1D-635033484
GUID-6A5A1D18-D5A4-43,35-8F44-7577FAFDOD3B