Focus on New York State

Guest post by Bobbi Chase Wilding, organizing director of Clean New York.

The New York State legislative session opened in January, and our coalition members are working hard to make sure that environmental health is a top priority.

Child-Safe Products

Our top focus this year is legislation to get toxic chemicals out of children's products. Maine has passed a Kids-Safe Products Act which requires manufacturer disclosure of chemicals and a move toward safer alternatives, and New York hopes to pass a similar law.

"There is a mountain of scientific evidence that developing infants and children are incredibly vulnerable to toxic chemicals, and that early exposures can have lifelong health consequences," said Kathy Curtis, Policy Director for Clean New York. "New York can help protect children by creating the framework for moving toxic chemicals out of common childcare products."

Budget Priorities

On January 19th, Governor Paterson released his draft budget for 2010-2011. Despite this being one of the most difficult budget years in New York's history, it includes $1.65 million in funding for the in-state Pollution Prevention Institute (P2I) and the Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse, the JustGreen Partnership's two top budget priorities. The proposed line item for the P2I represents a $625,000 increase, which will enable the P2I to expand their assistance to businesses in choosing safer materials and chemicals.

Avoidance List

New York has plans to create a chemical avoidance list of 85 chemicals for state agencies to disfavor when procuring products and services. New York's state purchasing budget is $9 billion, so this is not inconsequential. The avoidance list includes PBDE chemicals and bisphenol-A (BPA) . This encouraging move is in line with Governor Paterson's executive order to buy environmentally friendly products.

Disappointment in Dutchess County

Several counties in New York state have banned BPA from sippy cups and baby bottles--Suffolk, Albany and Schenectady counties. In 2009, the Dutchess County legislature voted to join those counties in protecting the youngest populations, only to have the measure be vetoed by the County Executive at the very last minute to avoid an override -- on December 31 while we were all ringing in the new year.

Further Reading

NY Considers List of 85 chemicals to avoid buying. Associated Press, 01/03/10.