VPIRG & CLF Vermont Yankee case amicus brief
On September 6th, 2011 VPIRG, in partnership with the Conservation Law Foundation, filed an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief in support of Vermont’s case against Entergy’s lawsuit.
Resources
VPIRG report shows need for Consumer Protection Bureau
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau takes over enforcement of all major U.S. consumer laws July 21st. The agency was created in the wake of the Wall Street scandals that led to the Great Recession, and is tasked with protecting consumers from predatory lending and financial traps. Unfortunately, Wall Street banks have asked their friends in Congress to hamstring the agency by denying it a director. Now a new VPIRG report shows why we need this agency.
Vermont’s E-waste Recycling Program
On Friday, July 1st, Vermont’s new electronic waste (e-waste) recycling program will begin, providing free and convenient recycling of e-waste to Vermont residents, charities, schools, and small businesses. The recycling program, known as “Vermont E-Cycles”, was created by a VPIRG-backed law passed by legislators last year requiring manufacturers of electronics to finance the cost of collecting and recycling their discarded products. This type of “producer responsibility” program not only eases the financial burden carried by municipalities, but it also provides a powerful incentive for manufacturers to design their electronics to last longer and to exclude the toxic materials that make recycling so difficult and expensive.
S. 34 Mercury Lamps Fact Sheet
A guide to the Mercury Lamps Bill (S.34). S.34 would require manufacturers of mercury-containing lamps to establish a free and convenient recycling program for fluorescent bulbs. By financing the cost of recycling their products, manufacturers will have a powerful incentive to design their lamps to last longer and to exclude the toxic materials, including mercury, that make recycling so difficult and expensive.
Fact Sheet on Green Cleaning
Conventional cleaning products used in schools can contain a wide variety of harmful chemicals that have been linked to asthma, cancer, and other negative health effects. The potential for these chemicals to pollute indoor air and impair the health and comfort of students and staff cannot be dismissed.
Clean Heat: Comfortable Homes, Affordable Future
Over the past five years, VPIREF has released three major reports addressing the challenges and opportunities in determining Vermont’s energy future. These reports provided insights into the economic challenges and environmental impacts of energy use in Vermont and identified solutions that could help Vermont build a clean energy future.
Important vote on mercury lamp recycling
The benefits of fluorescent bulbs in terms of energy efficiency are tremendous, and VPIRG supports their continued use. However, fluorescent bulbs also contain mercury, a known neurotoxin that can build up in our bodies and the environment. As the demand for energy efficient lighting increases, it’s imperative that Vermont have an effective recycling infrastructure in place.
Town Meeting Day: Find your Vermont Town Clerk
Town meeting is a rare instance of real, face-to-face democracy that only happens in special places like Vermont. Every year Vermonters gather to debate and make important decisions on everything from the roads we drive on to our energy future. We encourage everyone to attend their local town meeting and make their voice heard.
VPIRG launches Bigger, Better Bottle Bill Campaign
VPIRG has officially launched our Bigger, Better, Bottle Bill Campaign with the release of polling results revealing overwhelming support for the Bottle Bill, the state’s most successful recycling program. It turns out the Bottle Bill is right up there with motherhood and apple pie in terms of its popularity with Vermonters!
Kicking off the Bigger, Better Bottle Bill website
We are proud to launch our new website for our campaign to build on the Bottle Bill’s enormous success and not only protect the Bottle Bill, but to update it to include beverage containers such as water bottles, juice containers, and sports drinks. As we move through the legislative session, we will be adding all the new developments here to this blog as they occur. Keep an eye out for what is happening in the State House and the ways you can get involved.