A new study by the Environmental Working Group shows that chemicals closely related to PFOA, the toxic chemical that contaminated water in Bennington, are still used in some food wrappers. Since PFOA was banned from food contact substances, industry has shifted to coat food wrappers with similar chemicals with slightly different chemical structures, which are intended to …
After PFOA was discovered in drinking water in Bennington County, VPIRG worked with members of the Legislature to pass Act 154, which helped address the contamination in the short-term and created a working group to evaluate how we regulate toxic chemicals and how we can better prevent similar situations from happening in the future. VPIRG’s Paul …
How Can We Better Protect Vermonters from Toxic Chemicals? Read More »
Advocates Identify Toys Containing Dangerous Chemicals Available in Vermont Some toys that have been recalled for lead or powerful magnets or other hazards can still be found in online stores, according to VPIRG’s 31st annual Trouble in Toyland report. The survey of potentially hazardous toys found that consumers should be wary when shopping this holiday …
31st Annual Survey Finds Recalled Toys in Online Stores Read More »
On November 19th, nearly 200 Vermonters from all across the state gathered at Main Street Landing in Burlington to push for action to address global warming in the upcoming legislative session. The “Climate Solutions Summit,” – which VPIRG co-hosted with our coalition partners at Energy Independent Vermont – included a variety of panels and workshops …
Every year the top retailers in the US are assessed based on their disclosure of harmful toxic chemicals that are often used in their products. In a country where over 85,000 chemicals that are not fully tested are regularly used in everyday consumer products, disclosure and arming consumers with the right to know is the most powerful …
We can all agree that there are few Halloween traditions more adorable than children getting their faces painted to look like spooky ghosts or fierce animals. However, a new report by the Breast Cancer Fund and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has highlighted a dark reality behind kid’s face paint: it is often riddled with chemicals that most would not let their kids go …
“Pretty Scary 2” Report Unveils the Toxic Truth Behind Kid’s Facepaint Read More »
The Bottle Bill is the well-known state law that allows individuals to return certain beverage containers to a redemption center for a five cent rebate. For VPIRG, the issue runs deep- the organization has been fighting to defend and expand the Bottle Bill for over 40 years. It’s a simple yet novel idea, and Bottle Bills across …
Paving the way for universal recycling one nickel at a time Read More »
VPIRG is urging all candidates for public office in Vermont to support a ban on so-called pay-to-play activity related to state contracts. Recent controversies over related practices have involved members of both the Democratic and Republican parties. Lt. Gov. Phil Scott recently announced that he would sell his portion of his construction business if he is …
“Pay-to-play” corruption must be addressed in VT Read More »
Right now, twenty cents of every dollar we earn as Vermonters goes to pay for health care costs. On top of that, a third of all Vermonters either can’t afford their health insurance, or they have no health insurance at all. Costs are far outpacing economic growth, meaning that for the average Vermonter health care is becoming …
2016 Gubernatorial Candidates & Health Care Reform Read More »
VPIRG and members of the Alliance for Clean and Healthy Vermont co-released a new report produced by national partners today that found that the lining of two out of three cans tested contain the toxic chemical Bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that negatively impacts our hormonal systems. Evidence suggests it may contribute …
New report finds toxic BPA in two out of three tested canned food linings Read More »
