Starting next year, an iconic hotel will be banned in a single state, with fines of up to $250 for those who refuse to comply.
A bill has been passed in New York state mandating that large hotels no longer offer small containers of “hospitality care” products, in hopes of reducing the use of single-use plastic.
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It takes effect Jan. 1, 2025, banning toiletry bottles under 12 ounces in hotels with more than 50 rooms, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
Hotels and motels with fewer than 50 rooms must follow suit by January 1, 2026.
A “hospitality personal care product” is defined as a “product supplied by a hotel and intended to be applied or used on the human body or any part thereof for cleaning”, according to legislation introduced in 2019.
“In this day and age, we have to watch our carbon footprint and stop using plastics and all sorts of things as best we can,” said John Fitzpatrick, a hotelier, The New York Times.
Fitzpatrick, who owns two four-star hotels in midtown Manhattan, says he and his team are working to figure out how to proceed with removing toiletries once the ban goes into effect.
He initially thought about using wall-mounted pump-top bottles, but worried they would be difficult to clean.
His team proposed using small foil packets similar to ketchup packets, however, Fitzpatrick thinks they would be difficult for someone to open in the shower with wet hands.
“You know, I thought companies would come up with a lot of new ideas,” he said.
“But here we are, sitting at the table.”
Hotels found to be in violation of the rules will first receive a 30-day notice to “correct the violation.”
However, if the violation is repeated, hotels will be “liable to the State for a civil fine of two hundred and fifty dollars.”
If the problem persists, there will be another fine of US$500, according to legislation.
Some hotels have already started the adjustment process.
“We have long been focused on our residential amenities program, moving from small toiletry bottles to larger pump-top bottles as part of our commitment to reducing plastic waste,” a Mariott Hotels spokesperson told the local affiliate from Fox. WNYW.
Meanwhile, a Hilton spokesperson told the outlet that properties were required to “transition to full-sized shampoo, conditioner and soaps, eliminating single-use miniature bottles and reducing discarded bars of soap” starting 2023.
Some travelers criticized the new legislation, laughing it off as a joke.
“Are you kidding me? Let’s eliminate diapers and needles placed on our land (sic), can we get someone with common sense for our bigger problems?” read a Facebook post.
Another person understood the change better, but still had some problems.
“I read in the New York Times that New York will ban large hotels from providing guests with small plastic bottles of shampoo and soap,” they wrote.
New York State Bans Toiletries in Hotels
New York hotels will be forced to forget about small bottles containing “hospitality care”
This includes any product provided by a hotel that is “intended to be applied or used on the human body or any part thereof for cleaning,” according to the legislation.
The law comes into force on January 1, 2025, for hotels with more than 50 rooms.
Hotels and motels with fewer than 50 rooms are expected to comply with the standard by 2026.
Hotels that do not comply will first receive a warning and will have 30 days to correct the problem.
However, if the problem persists, a fine of US$250 will be imposed.
Hotels still providing bottles after the second offense will be fined $500, according to the legislation.
“A hearing or opportunity to be heard will be provided
prior to the assessment of any civil penalty.”
“That’s fine with me; the last New York hotel I stayed in had plastic bottles so small they were difficult to squeeze and dispensed one drop at a time.
“I understand the desire to cut costs, but how boring.”
YEARS IN MANUFACTURING
The bill was introduced in the State Legislature in 2019 by former Senator Todd Kaminsky and Steven Englebright, a former state representative who is now a Suffolk County legislator.
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the law into law in 2021, however, it was delayed to give hotels a chance to use products that had already been purchased, Englebright said.
“New York is the size of many countries, so New York’s role is noted,” he added.
“When we do something important, it has the potential to be seen as a model for our sister states.”
New York is only the second state to pass a ban, with California at the forefront.
Washington state has passed a bill to phase out plastic toiletries by January 1, 2027.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
