N.Y. Environmental Conservation Law § 37-0201: Legislative findings and intent

§ 37-0201. Legislative findings and intent.

The legislature finds and declares that:

1. The management of solid waste can pose a wide range of hazards to

public health and safety and to the environment; and

2. Packaging comprises a significant percentage of the overall solid

waste stream; and

3. The presence of heavy metals in packaging is a part of the total

concern in light of their likely presence in emissions or ash when

packaging is incinerated, or in leachate when packaging is landfilled;

and

4. Lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium, on the basis of

available scientific and medical evidence, are of particular concern;

and

5. It is desirable as a first step in reducing the toxicity of

packaging waste to eliminate the addition of these heavy metals to

packaging; and

6. The intent of this title is to achieve this reduction in toxicity

without impeding or discouraging the expanded use of post-consumer

materials in the production of packaging and its components.