Assembly Resolution No. 586

BY: M. of A. Solages

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        July 2019, as Plastic Free Month in the State of New
        York

  WHEREAS,  The goal of Plastic Free July Initiative is to educate the
people of New York of the importance of reusing, reducing, and recycling
plastic items; Plastic  Free  July  has  gained  momentum  in  over  100
countries, with over 1 million participants; and

  WHEREAS,  Plastic Free July continue to accentuate the importance of
being green and continuing to reduce the amount of plastic we use in our
lives; and

  WHEREAS, Plastic Free July seeks to stress the staggering amounts of
plastic that have been produced globally; studies have found that in the
first 10 years of this century,  more  plastic  was  produced  than  the
entire  last  century;  across  New  York State, 9.37 billion single-use
plastic bags are disposed of; and in New York City alone,  12.5  million
dollars a year is spent on removing plastic waste; and

  WHEREAS,  Already,  the  ocean  is  filled  with 165 million tons of
plastic, and by 2050, plastic in the oceans will outweigh fish, predicts
a report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in  partnership  with  the
World Economic Forum; and

  WHEREAS,  Plastic  Free July seeks to take small strides at changing
this global issue by starting  with  the  people,  challenging  them  to
refuse  to  use  single-use  plastic;  single  use plastic is defined as
plastic shopping bags,  plastic  cups,  straws,  plastic  packaging  and
anything that is expected only to be used once and then discarded; and

  WHEREAS,   New   Yorkers   can   commemorate   this   initiative  by
participating in this challenge by giving up single  use  plastic  items
for a day, a week, or the whole month; and

  WHEREAS,  In recognition of the great accomplishments of the Plastic
Free  July  Initiative,  an  educational  and   reaffirming   month-long
challenge is held across New York State; and

  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative  Body  commends  the  Plastic  Free July
Initiative for enlightening New Yorkers of the importance of reusing and
eliminating the usage of plastic items; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize  Governor  Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim July 2019, as Plastic
Free Month in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That copies of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to  The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York, and to the events commemorating Plastic Free  July  throughout
New York State.