Senate approves mattress producer-responsibility bill after hours-long debate

Albany — The New York State Senate on Monday passed Senate Print 1463, a bill that would require mattress producers selling products in New York to participate in an approved producer responsibility program to collect and recycle discarded mattresses.

Senator Kavanaugh, sponsor of the bill, told colleagues that the measure is modeled on extended producer responsibility programs in other states and would be administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. “If you want to sell mattresses in New York, that you're part of an approved program approved by DEC,” Kavanaugh said on the floor, describing requirements for producer plans and a DEC-maintained list of participating producers.

Supporters said the bill aims to reduce the burden on local governments and divert bulky waste from landfills. Kavanaugh noted that established EPR programs elsewhere have achieved high collection and recycling rates, and argued New York should require producers to ensure convenient collection…