Whole Foods has led on plastics in the past, but the company recently got an "F" in a report by As You Sow for failing to tackle plastic pollution. Tell Whole Foods' CEO to get rid of single-use plastics in its stores.
Whole Foods has led on plastics in the past, but the company recently got an "F" in a report by As You Sow for failing to tackle plastic pollution. Tell Whole Foods' CEO to get rid of single-use plastics in its stores.
Solid Waste
Superfund Reinvestment Act would bring back "Polluters Pay" tax
The Superfund Reinvestment Act would ensure the federal Superfund Trust — which pays for toxic waste cleanups where the liable party cannot be found or cannot pay — is fully funded through a "Polluters Pay" tax.
Consumer Protection
Getting Off the Hook of a Predatory Tow
Fourteen ways states should protect consumers when their car is towed and which states offer those safeguards. These protections range from who is responsible for damages caused by careless towing to whether you are guaranteed the option to pay by credit card.
Food
Nearly 70% of companies surveyed improved toxic chemical policies
Nearly 70 percent of surveyed retailers showed improvement in their chemical safety programs over the last five years, according to a report released by U.S. PIRG Education Fund, Mind the Store and other partners.
Consumer Protection
Voiding warranties for 'unauthorized' repair is illegal. Appliance companies are doing it anyway.
It's illegal to void a product's warranty simply because it receives an "unauthorized" repair — but appliance companies have persisted with the practice, finds an April report.
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News & Research
Blog Post
A new bill aims to speed up toxic waste cleanups
News Release | U.S. PIRG Education Fund
As “National Hurricane Preparedness Week” kicks off, many communities across the United States are still dealing with the devastating effects of last year’s record-shattering Atlantic hurricane season.
Report | U.S. PIRG Education Fund and Environment America Research and Policy Center
Today, one in five Americans lives within just three miles of a Superfund toxic waste site. Contaminants of concern at these sites include arsenic, lead, mercury, benzene, dioxin, and other hazardous chemicals that may increase the risk of cancer, reproductive problems, birth defects, and other serious illnesses. Cleanup can take a decade or more, and decreased funding over the last 20 years has led to slower cleanups. To make matters worse, climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of storms such as hurricanes that threaten to impact toxic waste sites, which could spread the chemicals at these sites into surrounding communities. During the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, 810 Superfund toxic waste sites were in the path of a hurricane or tropical storm.
Blog Post
Why appliances aren’t built to last, and how the E.U. is changing that.
Blog Post
A scorecard released by U.S. PIRG Education Fund found that many popular cosmetic brands score poorly on ingredient safety and disclosure. While companies and governments need to take action to protect consumers, in the meantime, you can take steps to keep your personal care routine safe.
RESOURCE
Coronavirus update
In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, we’ve taken steps for all of our staff to work remotely for safety reasons. But rest assured, we’ll keep advocating for you as we work for a healthier, safer world.
Learn more about how we can work together to address the COVID-19 pandemic.