Credit: David/Flickr

California confronts plastic recycling challenges under new law

A recent report challenges California's approach to plastic recycling, citing concerns over illegal exports and the state's "Truth in Labeling" law.

James Bruggers reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

California's recycling law, aimed at accurate recyclability claims, faces scrutiny for potentially allowing misleading labels and illegal plastic waste exports.
Environmental groups criticize the state's preliminary data, arguing it could mislead consumers and exacerbate plastic pollution.
The controversy highlights the complex issues surrounding plastic recycling, including contamination and the global trade in waste.

Key quote:

"As a state, California is still misleading its own citizens and the world when it comes to pretending to be able to recycle most of our plastic wastes."

— Jan Dell, founder of The Last Beach Cleanup.

Why this matters:

With only 6% of plastics recycled nationally, the failure to manage plastic waste has a detrimental affect on global health and environmental sustainability. Every stage of plastic production and use is harming human health.

www.ehn.org

Senator Whitehouse puts climate change on budget committee’s agenda

For more than a decade, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse gave daily warnings about the mounting threat of climate change. Now he has a powerful new perch.

Man with cigarette in his hand driving a car in the UK.

Credit: Roger Jeffreys/Pixabay

UK: Labour urged to ensure fair distribution of net zero costs to keep public support

The UK’s chief climate adviser warns that failing to fairly distribute the costs of decarbonization could erode public support for net zero and urges Labour leaders Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves to make a strong economic case for green policies.

Fiona Harvey reports for The Guardian.

Keep reading...Show less

Read the Full Article on

www.theguardian.com

California confronts plastic recycling challenges under new law

Trump's freeze on climate spending halts projects and jobs

Homeownership risks grow as climate disasters drive up insurance costs

Trump’s plan to dismantle FEMA meets Republican resistance

UK: Labour urged to ensure fair distribution of net zero costs to keep public support

Shell pulls out of major New Jersey offshore wind project amid shifting market

The Department of Energy’s ties to the plastics industry raise conflict concerns

Living near oil and gas wells linked to higher COVID-19 death rates

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Op-ed: Why funding for the environmental justice movement must be anti-racist

We must prioritize minority-serving institutions, BIPOC-led organizations and researchers to lead environmental justice efforts.

Biden finalizes long-awaited hydrogen tax credits ahead of Trump presidency

Responses to the new rules have been mixed, and environmental advocates worry that Trump could undermine them.

Op-ed: Toxic prisons teach us that environmental justice needs abolition

Prisons, jails and detention centers are placed in locations where environmental hazards such as toxic landfills, floods and extreme heat are the norm.

LISTEN: Reflections on the first five years of the Agents of Change program

The leadership team talks about what they’ve learned — and what lies ahead.

Study shows $1 billion in lost tax revenue in Houston area from industry tax breaks

Top polluters are benefiting the most from tax breaks.