Massachusetts Bottle Bill: 3 Reasons Why We Need to Modernize It
Litter is taking a toll on Massachusetts’ health and economy. These three reasons show how an updated bottle bill could help us change that.
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Litter is taking a toll on Massachusetts’ health and economy. These three reasons show how an updated bottle bill could help us change that.
“The State’s decision is an assault on one of our bedrock environmental protections,” said CLF attorney Mason Overstreet. “Dangerous chemicals are leaching out of this landfill and polluting the Black River and Lake Memphremagog, a drinking water source for thousands of people. The State’s irresponsible decision not to require a Clean Water Act permit blows a hole through the law’s core protections and leaves Vermonters exposed to pollutants. The court should reverse the state’s decision and require a permit with effective pollution control limits.”
“There’s no reason why tons of food should end up in New Hampshire’s landfills and incinerators,” said CLF attorney Nora Bosworth, Zero Waste Attorney at CLF. “Food decomposing in landfills spews toxic methane pollution, threatening our health and worsening the climate crisis. In fact, food is the single largest component in most landfills, so keeping it out of our trash will decrease our reliance on poisonous and unsustainable landfills. This provision will ensure that more food is donated or and composted, which is a win for our communities and the planet.”
Since 2019, CLF has been fighting alongside Bethlehem residents to stop an unnecessary landfill expansion. Now, our fight against Casella heads to the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
“So-called advanced recycling is too often just incineration by another name,” said CLF President Brad Campbell. “EPA is right to reverse course on a proposal that would have validated the petrochemical industry’s deceit, increased toxic exposure in communities, and accelerated the already overwhelming proliferation of single-use plastics threatening our health and our environment.“
Earth Day is almost here! It’s our moment to honor our planet by taking concrete action to preserve the environment and fight climate change. After all, as the saying goes, there’s no Planet B. So, this year, let’s celebrate Earth Day by pairing our small local efforts with BIG collective actions that can really… Continue reading 5 Things To Do On Earth Day
Parallel Products wants to expand its current recycling facility into a trash transfer station. That spells bad news for the New Bedford residents. CLF and our partners are stepping up to protect the community and environment.
Connecticut just took a big step back in its commitment to recycling. In 2021, legislators voted to modernize and expand the state’s bottle return program by raising the deposit fee and making more types of beverage containers eligible. Last month, these same legislators inexplicably chose to weaken the program by approving a measure that will… Continue reading Connecticut’s New Bottle Law Kicks the Can Down the Road
The derailment of a train carrying toxic petroleum-based chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio in February is a sad consequence of the fossil fuel industry’s deadly plastics push.
In Massachusetts, landfills are reaching capacity, and the costs for waste disposal are growing. But expanding landfills or shifting our burden onto others will not fix the problem. Instead, we must produce less trash.