File #: Int 0035-2024    Version: * Name: A prohibition on the sale of laundry and dishwasher pods and sheets using polyvinyl alcohol.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Environmental Protection, Resiliency and Waterfronts
On agenda: 2/8/2024
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a prohibition on the sale of laundry and dishwasher pods and sheets using polyvinyl alcohol
Sponsors: James F. Gennaro, Lincoln Restler, Alexa Avilés, Erik D. Bottcher, Althea V. Stevens, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Carlina Rivera , Shahana K. Hanif, Julie Won, Christopher Marte, Diana I. Ayala, Shaun Abreu
Council Member Sponsors: 12
Summary: This bill would prohibit the sale of laundry and dishwasher pods, as well as laundry and dishwasher sheets, that include polyvinyl alcohol. It would also require education and outreach to retail and wholesale businesses on compliance with the requirements of this law.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 35, 2. Int. No. 35, 3. February 8, 2024 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 2-8-24, 5. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - February 8, 2024

Int. No. 35

 

By Council Members Gennaro, Restler, Avilés, Bottcher, Stevens, Gutiérrez, Rivera, Hanif, Won, Marte, Ayala and Abreu

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a prohibition on the sale of laundry and dishwasher pods and sheets using polyvinyl alcohol

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 5 of title 24 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 24-533 to read as follows:

§ 24-533 Prohibition on the sale of certain polyvinyl alcohol products. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Covered establishment. The term “covered establishment” means a retail store, wholesale establishment, or other vendor of goods.

Polyvinyl alcohol. The term “polyvinyl alcohol” means a water soluble synthetic polymer formed by the hydrolysis of a vinyl polymer, such as polyvinyl acetate.

Polyvinyl alcohol laundry or dishwasher pod. The term “polyvinyl alcohol laundry or dishwasher pod” means an individual, self-contained, single-use product consisting of an interior that is a cleaning agent or detergent and an exterior that is, in whole or in part, a polyvinyl alcohol film or wrapping, and that is meant for use in a laundry machine or dishwashing machine.

Polyvinyl alcohol laundry or dishwasher sheet. The term “polyvinyl alcohol sheet” means a self-contained, single-use dissolvable product in the form of a fabric-like sheet composed, in part, of polyvinyl alcohol, and that is meant for use in a laundry machine or dishwashing machine.

b. No covered establishment shall possess, sell, offer, or otherwise distribute to any person a polyvinyl alcohol laundry or dishwasher sheet or a polyvinyl alcohol laundry or dishwasher pod.

c. Any covered establishment in violation of subdivision b of this section, or any rule promulgated thereunder, shall be liable for a civil penalty of $400 for a first violation, $800 for a second violation, and $1,200 for a third or subsequent violation.

d. The department, and the department of consumer and worker protection, shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of this section.

§ 2. The department of environmental protection, in consultation with the department of consumer and worker protection, shall conduct outreach and education to retail stores, wholesale establishments, and other vendors to inform them of the provisions of section one of this local law. Such outreach and education may continue, but shall not be required by this section to continue, after January 1, 2027.

§ 3. This local law takes effect January 1, 2026, except that section two of this local law takes effect immediately.

 

BJR

LS #14070

1/31/2024