Prohibits city agencies of the city of New York from procuring single-use water containers.
This bill would amend the New York City Administrative Code to prohibit city agencies from entering into or renewing contracts to purchase single-use plastic water containers, or meals and refreshments that include them. The bill defines a single-use plastic water container as a sealed plastic container under one gallon containing flat, unflavored drinking water that is generally intended to be discarded after one use.
The prohibition includes several exceptions. City agencies could still procure these containers when necessary to protect health, safety, and welfare, to prepare for or respond to an emergency, or when compliance would conflict with existing contract requirements or labor agreements in place before the bill’s effective date, or with agreements solicited before that date. The act would take effect immediately if enacted.
The bill would add a new subchapter to Title 6 of the New York City Administrative Code, creating a procurement restriction for city agencies rather than a general ban on private sales or possession. Its practical effect would be to limit municipal purchasing of bottled water and related catering items, likely reducing single-use plastic waste in city operations while preserving flexibility for emergencies, public health needs, and preexisting contractual obligations.
No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the available materials. Based on the text alone, the bill appears environmentally motivated and narrowly tailored, with built-in exceptions suggesting an effort to balance waste reduction with operational and safety concerns.
The main points of potential contention are likely to be the scope of the procurement ban and the exceptions. Supporters would likely favor reducing plastic waste and encouraging reusable or alternative water service, while critics may focus on operational burdens, costs, vendor and catering impacts, and the carve-outs for health, emergency response, and existing contracts. Labor and contract compliance issues could also be a point of concern because the bill expressly preserves certain existing agreements.