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Resident urges Ithaca to keep 'zero waste' in climate plan, cautions on state EPR model
Summary
A resident speaker asked the commission to add explicit "zero waste" language to the climate action plan, to publish proposed resolution text for public review, and cautioned that the current state Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) packaging proposal could centralize control with producers and hinder local reuse programs.
Yayoi, founder of Zioi Sitaka, told the commission she appreciated adding a waste component to the climate action plan and asked the public to be able to see any proposed resolution language before it is adopted. "The public should be able to see it," she said, and offered to provide suggested language or a draft for staff review.
Yayoi raised enforcement questions about single‑use reduction measures and suggested the city consider complaint‑based enforcement through existing channels rather than new policing programs. She argued many single‑use reductions operate as voluntary programs that the city should support, not overregulate.
On state policy, Yayoi warned the current state packaging EPR bill is "highly contested," saying environmental justice and zero‑waste groups fear the model would lock control with producers and limit community‑led reuse efforts. She noted similar EPR programs have faced legal challenges in other states and urged the commission to "keep zero waste in the climate action plan, focus on upstream reduction and local reuse, and avoid language that looks like an endorsement of the current state EPR bill."
Commissioners acknowledged the points and thanked her for offering to share language and an op‑ed co‑authored with Neil Seldman; one commissioner said the suggestions were "reasonable for the city to consider." Staff said they had recorded the comments and would follow up as the commission drafts any formal language.
The commission did not vote on a specific ordinance or resolution during the meeting; staff and commissioners indicated the topic would be part of future agenda work and legal and enforcement implications would be explored further.
