Zero Waste

Legislators Consider Expanding VT’s Bottle Bill – Take Action!

Bottle Bill, News and Updates / By

Vermont’s Bottle Bill is responsible for recycling approximately 10 BILLION beverage containers since it was passed in 1972. That’s incredible! It’s true, the Bottle Bill has been Vermont’s most effective recycling law for generations. Since it took effect in 1973, it has: Reduced roadside litter, saving an estimated $34 million in litter cleanup costs, Produced …

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State Settles CSWD Glass-Dumping Case

News and Updates, Zero Waste / By

Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan announced a settlement agreement with Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) today regarding the District’s improper dumping of approximately 18,000 tons of processed glass between 2013 and 2018. As part of the agreement, CSWD is required to make payments totaling $400,000, $178,000 of which will go to the State. The rest …

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ANR halts retroactive permitting process for CSWD illegal glass case

News and Updates, Zero Waste / By

On Friday, Nov. 20, 2020 we learned that the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) has chosen not to move forward with issuing after-the-fact permits to Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) for several instances of illegal dumping of glass. This decision comes on the heels of a wave of public input to officials at ANR, urging …

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ANR to let CSWD off the hook for illegal glass dumping

News and Updates, Toxics & Environmental Health, Universal Recycling / By

In April 2018, Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) sent Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) a Notice of Alleged Violation for dumping glass that Vermont residents and haulers had paid them to recycle. Records indicate that in 2017, huge quantities of glass that citizens put into bins and paid to be recycled were instead dumped in three different locations in Williston by Chittenden …

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Let’s Talk About Environmental Justice

Climate & Energy, News and Updates, Racial Justice, Toxics & Environmental Health, Zero Waste / By

According to the EPA, environmental justice is “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” A goal which will be achieved “when everyone enjoys (1) the same degree of protection from environmental …

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Understanding VT’s New Composting Law

Food Waste, News and Updates, Universal Recycling, Zero Waste / By

As of July 1, 2020, Vermont state law bans food scraps from the trash. Here’s what you need to know… What’s Act 148? In 2012, Vermont passed the Universal Recycling Law (Act 148), which had several waste-diversion provisions that would be phased in over the course of several years. The last of these measures,  which …

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VT Single-Use Plastics Ban Takes Effect

News and Updates, Toxics & Environmental Health, Zero Waste / By

Great news – Vermont’s Single-Use Plastics Ban goes into effect today! Last year, VPIRG worked hard to advocate for the passage of this best-in-the-nation legislation, and we couldn’t have done it without support from our members, supporters, and allies across the state. As you well know, we face a real and growing plastic pollution crisis. …

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Tell VT Officials: Keep Recycling in Vermont!

News and Updates, Toxics & Environmental Health, Universal Recycling, Zero Waste / By

During this crisis, we need to do everything we can to protect frontline workers who are making it possible for life to go on for the rest of us. At the same time, we need to guard against corporate interests trying to use the crisis as leverage to win policies that could harm public health …

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Environmental Health Crossover Update & Call to Action

News and Updates, Toxics & Environmental Health, Zero Waste / By

The VT Legislature is back from Town Meeting break and it’s crossover week, which means legislation needs to move this week if it’s to have a chance of being enacted this year. VPIRG director Paul Burns and Vermont Conservation Voters director Lauren Hierl came together to give an update on where several key pieces of …

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