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Weston Rep. Shaban Supports Efforts To Reduce Packaging In Online Orders

WESTON, Conn. -- State Rep. John Shaban, a Republican from Weston, is supporting a bipartisan effort spearheaded by state Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr. to introduce legislation to reduce packaging waste associated with the shipping of online retail orders.

State Rep. John Shaban supports a bipartisan effort spearheaded by Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr. to introduce legislation to reduce packaging waste associated with the shipping of online retail orders.

State Rep. John Shaban supports a bipartisan effort spearheaded by Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr. to introduce legislation to reduce packaging waste associated with the shipping of online retail orders.

Photo Credit: File

“The environment is of central importance to most Connecticut residents, so continuing our mission of sound environment stewardship will again be a key part of this upcoming legislative session,” said Shaban. “As in years past, my job will be to vet and shape the various policy proposals, and especially support good initiatives like this one.”

Shaban, who represents Easton, Redding and Weston in the 135th House District, is the ranking member of the Legislature’s Environment Committee. 

Kennedy plans to introduce legislation in the 2016 legislative session that would boost recycling and cut the waste generated by packaging materials. One the avenues Kennedy is exploring is to require that boxes used to ship purchases be no larger than necessary or be made of recyclable materials. Another is to establish a labeling system to help customers identify and purchase items shipped in “frustration-free” packaging that is more accessible for consumer and uses fewer packaging materials. 

“We’ve all received packages from online retailers that came in an oversized box, stuffed with packaging materials, and wondered why it is necessary. In many cases it’s not needed and is extremely wasteful,” said Kennedy. “Connecticut recently set a goal to reduce solid waste in our state by 60 percent by 2024. 

"The dramatic increase in Internet shopping has made this goal difficult, if not unobtainable. It is my intention to work with my colleagues in the legislature and stakeholders in these businesses to craft and pass legislation that will establish an affordable, sustainable and environmentally friendly method of confronting this growing problem.”

Kennedy and his colleagues on the General Assembly’s Environment Committee will also consider a stewardship program for companies that are major contributors of packaging waste. Through the stewardship program, the state would work with businesses to ensure that packaging materials are recyclable and/or made of recycled materials. 

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