Let Us Reuse: New Yorkers Deserve Real BYO Rights
Senator Patricia Fahy, Assemblymember Anna Kelles, and New York State Legislators responsible for amending and advancing the BYO Rights bill
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New York’s Bring Your Own (BYO) - Rights to Refill -bill (S7408 / A8007 2025) is a step in the right direction—but it doesn't go far enough . As written, it mostly repeats what’s already legal—BYO for dry goods and beverages. It leaves out the most critical piece: the right to bring your own containers for takeout at restaurants and grocery store delis.
Where We’re At: This petition stands firm in calling for a full, undiluted amendment to the BYO Rights bill (S7408 / A8007). The bill in its current form only restates what’s already legal. We’re calling on sponsors and committee members to strengthen it—not water it down—by enshrining the right to BYO clean containers from home for takeout at restaurants and grocery store delis across New York State.
We will continue updating this petition as the legislative process unfolds.
These amendments were developed by Zero Waste Ithaca (ZWI),Columbia County Reduces and other allied organizations after more than two years of delay. We need your support now to make sure they’re fully included before the bill moves forward.
We, undersigned, respectfully urge Senator Patricia Fahy (Senate sponsor of S7408) and Assemblymember Anna Kelles (Assembly sponsor of A8007) to introduce and support the full set of amendments.
These amendments will:
Allow restaurants and delis to serve takeout in clean customer-provided containers
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Protect businesses from liability when accepting reusables
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Repeal outdated § 271‑8.3(e) of the NYS Food Code which restrict BYO at grocery store delis and salad bar
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Bring New York's policy up to California, Illinois, Oregon, and other regions around the world
Microplastics, PFAS, and other hazardous chemicals in single-use containers threaten the health of all New Yorkers—especially when exposed to heat, grease, or acidity. A growing body of scientific research shows the risks posed by microplastics, PFAS, and other chemicals commonly found in single-use containers. BYO (Bring Your Own) practice is a simple, safe and cost-free solution for consumers, supported by governments around the world.
For over two years, community organizations have engaged in good-faith dialogue with legislative staff and provided policy language grounded in health and environmental evidence. We appreciate the opportunity to contribute, and we hope to see these commonsense amendments we worked on will be introduced and advanced in the next session—without weakening the intent of the amendments.
We share a common goal: a healthier, more sustainable New York. Expanding BYO rights is a meaningful, low-cost policy that empowers consumers and supports climate and public health objectives. We respectfully urge you to take this next step.
This petition is officially sponsored by Zero Waste Ithaca, BYO-US Reduces and Columbia County Reduces.
Additional co-sponsoring organizations appear below via Action Network’s sponsor section, and others are acknowledged in the petition text below as part of the broader coalition.
If your organization or business is interested in signing on this petition, please fill out this form.
American Environmental Health Studies Project (National)
Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community (PA)
Beyond Plastics Lower Westchester (NY)
Cayuga Climate Action (Auburn, NY)
Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now! (CLEAN) (NY)
The Center for Oil & Gas Organizing (National)
Clean Air Action Network of Glen Falls (NY)
Finger Lakes Justice Partnership (Penn Yan, NY)
FLX Craft Beverage Environmental Coalition (Geneva, NY)
Forty Weight Coffee Roasters - Cafe (Ithaca, NY)
GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives) (Global)
Grassroots Environmental Education (White Plains, NY)
It's Easy Being Green (New York, NY)
JSA Sustainable Properties (Clermont, NY)
League of Women Voters of New York State
▶️ League of Women Voters, Cortland County (NY)
▶️ League of Women Voters, Rensselaer County (NY)
▶️ League of Women Voters, Schnectady County (NY)
People for a Healthy Environment (Horseheads, NY)
Rosie's Cafe and Parlor (Ithaca, NY)
Seneca Lake Guardian (Watkins Glen, NY)
Southern Tier Reduces (Corning, NY)
The Story of Stuff Project (National)
Save Inwood Park (New York, NY)
Strategy Zero Waste Solutions, LLC (MT)
Sustainable Rentals LLC (Rhinebeck, NY)
Waterside Tenants Association, Inc. (New York, NY)
Westchester Alliance for Sustainable Solutions (Peekskill, NY)
Zero Waste Capital District (Albany, NY)
Sponsored by
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Additional Sponsors
To:
Senator Patricia Fahy, Assemblymember Anna Kelles, and New York State Legislators responsible for amending and advancing the BYO Rights bill
From:
[Your Name]
Dear Senator Fahy, Assemblymember Kelles, and members of the NYS Health, Agriculture and Environmental Conservation Committees,
I am writing to urge you to introduce and pass the full set of amendments to S7408 / A8007 as proposed by Zero Waste Ithaca and its partners in the BYO-US Reduces network.
These amendments would:
* Allow restaurants and delis to serve takeout food in clean, customer-provided containers
* Protect businesses from liability when they choose to accept reusables
* Recommend repeal of outdated § 271‑8.3(e) of the NYS Food Code which restrict BYO at grocery store delis and salad bars
* Align New York’s policy with successful Bring Your Own (BYO) laws already adopted in California, Oregon, and Maine
These changes are critical to protecting public health. A growing body of research shows that single-use containers—including those labeled compostable—can leach PFAS, microplastics, and other hazardous chemicals into food, especially when exposed to heat, grease, or acidity. BYO systems are safer, practical, and already working in other states.
As a New Yorker concerned about public health and climate, I urge you to:
* Commit to introducing these full, undiluted amendments in the 2025 legislative session
* Ensure they are advanced without weakening the intent or scope
* Stand up for a policy rooted in science, equity, and consumer choice
Thank you for your attention to this issue. I look forward to seeing New York take meaningful action to support safe, reusable systems statewide.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Town or Zip Code]