Category: clean water

Power Plant Pollution

The air we breathe is precious. Please help protect it, and drive less!

Fossil fuels are a major contributor to our changing climate. We need to get rid of them not add more to cause air and water pollution.

United States allows more greenhouse gas emissions
Thid week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it was repealing a 2024 regulation that limited carbon emissions from power plants. This follows an action earlier this year that revoked a finding that carbon dioxide emissions were a threat to public health.

Fossil fuel power plants are the second largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, only behind the transportation industry.

Separately, the EPA is also pursuing a new rule that would prevent future governments from imposing a limit on emissions from power plants.

If you live in the United States and want to take action, reach out to environmental groups, engage in conversations within your community and speak to your elected officials. and drive less.

Limiting Overshoot: Navigating exceedance of 1.5°C and pathways towards return

What if we act as if we love the future?

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

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What if we act as if we love the future?

States Lead The Way

Some states are regulating toxic plastic. Thee are thousands of toxic chemicals. Out of 13,000 chemicals, we know only 1200 to be safe.

The Trump Administration is ending protections on every environmental regulation.. This will be harmful to us all, but mostly to our children. But there is some good news.

States across the country continue advancing bipartisan policies that increase transparency, reduce toxic chemicals and plastic pollution, accelerate safer solutions, and hold polluters accountable. Here’s what the first half of 2026 tells us.

More than halfway through 2026, one trend is clear: states continue to lead the nation in protecting people and communities from toxic chemicals and plastic pollution.

Across the country, legislators from both parties are responding to growing public demand for healthier products and processes, cleaner communities, and greater accountability. They are advancing a range of policy approaches that work together to protect health, from improving access to information about toxic chemicals to banning harmful chemicals to accelerating healthier solutions and holding polluters accountable.

So far in 2026, 12 states have adopted 25 policies to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals by requiring transparency, while lawmakers introduced hundreds of additional proposals.

The pace of action demonstrates that protecting health remains a growing bipartisan priority in state legislators across the country. 

How States are Protecting Health

1) Increase transparency about toxic chemicals

Good decisions start with good information. States continued to expand the public’s right to know about toxic chemicals in products and materials.

New Jersey required disclosure of PFAS in firefighter gear and Vermont adopted testing requirements for toxic metals in baby food. New Mexico finalized first-in-the-nation labeling requirements for all products containing PFAS, thanks to leadership from Amigos Bravos, a non-profit water conservation organization based in New Mexico. In Washington State, manufacturers submitted new information about PFAS in consumer products through their Safer Products for Washington program.

These actions help consumers, families, businesses, workers, and policymakers make better decisions while laying the groundwork for stronger health protections.

2) Reduce toxic chemicals and plastics pollution

States have continued taking action to help prevent toxic chemicals and plastics from reaching people and communities by addressing them at their source.

Firefighter exposure to toxic PFAS chemicals and contamination from firefighting foam containing PFAS remains a top concern. Arizona banned PFAS in firefighting foam, while New Jersey prohibited PFAS in firefighting gear to better protect firefighters from unnecessary exposure.

Several other states such as Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, and Vermont strengthened health protections covering cosmetics, baby food, and/or other products.

Meanwhile, Massachusetts joined California and North Carolina in restricting DEHP, a toxic chemical linked to breast, liver, lung, and testicular cancer, from the IV bags and tubing used to treat patients.

In New Jersey, advocacy by Clean Water Action and other allies led to the adoption of the nation’s strongest “Skip the Stuff” law, requiring reusable foodware as well as a broad package of restrictions on PFAS in consumer products.

Meanwhile, in Alaska, thanks to strong advocacy by Alaska Community Action on Toxics and local communities and Tribal leaders, lawmakers approved legislation to phase out polystyrene food containers before the measure was ultimately vetoed by the governor.

Together these policies reduce future exposure while creating stronger incentives for healthier products, processes, and materials.

3) Accelerate healthier solutions 

Protecting health also means making healthier products, processes, and materials easier to develop and adopt.

Washington State continues implementing its Safer Products for Washington program by evaluating safer alternatives across multiple product categories. Proposed regulatory actions are expected later this year with Toxic-Free Future playing a leading role in this process.

California policymakers responded to community concerns and listed microplastics as a priority chemical under its Safer Consumer Products law. This decision could help drive safer solutions for products such as textiles, cosmetics, and packaging.

4) Hold polluters accountable 

States also continued addressing toxic pollution that already exists.

Maryland restricted the spreading of PFAS-contaminated sludge. Maine expanded PFAS blood testing and strengthened management of firefighting foam containing PFAS.

Accountability also remained a priority. New York became the latest state to sue major chemical companies for contributing to PFAS pollution through their use of consumer products. As of July 2026, 33 state Attorneys General from across political parties have initiated litigation.

Protecting health continues to unite lawmakers 

Health protections continue to earn bipartisan support across the country.

Arizona’s firefighting foam restrictions were adopted by a conservative legislature, while Alaska’s lawmakers overwhelmingly approved legislation addressing polystyrene food containers. In Indiana, a bipartisan coalition successfully defeated a policy that would have weakened future PFAS protections.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s Natural Resources Board unanimously voted to adopt drinking water standards based on the Biden-era federal PFAS limits, and Governor Tony Evers later approved the rule.

Whether protecting drinking water, reducing cancer risks for firefighters or ensuring safer products for children, lawmakers from both parties continue to find common ground around practical policies that protect health.

The momentum continues

Even as Congress considers weakening the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) starts rolling back PFAS in drinking water protections, states continue moving forward.

The first half of 2026 shows that state leaders are building momentum for healthier solutions. State leadership is advancing innovative policies, defending existing protections, and working alongside communities, businesses, researchers, and advocates to protect health. With proposals still moving and implementation work ahead, states will remain at the forefront of protecting health, advancing safer solutions, and holding polluters accountable.

Planet Awareness

Consider our Earth when you make choices for your day.

Every day is full of choices. You won’t be perfect, but make it a habit to become aware! Our air, water, wildlife, and all living things thank you.

Below is from The Carbon Almanac:

Salvador Dalí once said, “Have no fear of perfection—you’ll never reach it.”

He wasn’t talking about the environment. But he could have been.

Somewhere along the way, the idea that if we’re going to care about the planet, we have to do it right. The right purchase. The right diet. The right commute. And if we can’t be sure we’re doing it right, a strange kind of paralysis sets in where it seems it is better to do nothing than to do something imperfectly and get it “wrong.”

Waiting for the perfect option is a very effective way to never act at all. And the perfect option doesn’t exist as every decision has trade-offs. 

So if we can’t make the perfect choice, then we should be looking for the next best choice. The choice that we don’t make on autopilot. When we pause to weigh the planet in a decision, we’re not just making one choice. We’re practicing a habit of attention. And that habit doesn’t stay contained to the one decision in front of us. It grows. The more often we consciously factor in impact, the more naturally it shows up in the next decision, and the one after that. Awareness builds on itself in a way that a single “perfect” decision never could.

The real question isn’t “did I make the perfect choice?” It’s simpler than that: “did I include the impact on the environment in my thinking?”

The more we do that, the better we will become at making the next best choice.

Picture of Lake Superior

Clean water and clean air depend on every day good choices.

I hope you aren’t Using Non-stick!

I love my cast iron pans!

It’s time to give up on the nonstick pan

I have been traveling and stayed in several apartments. The pots and pans were scraped up Teflon. I could see the Pfas and other chemicals oozing into my food. I chose to microwave in a glass bowl instead.

From Wirecutter

You might want to consider quitting nonstick pans altogether. Traditional nonstick pans are slick and easy to clean, but are coated with PFAS — also known as forever chemicals — which have been linked to a host of environmental and health concerns. (We have some tips for how to limit your exposure to PFAS.) And ceramic nonstick pans, which have cropped up as a “clean” alternative to traditional nonstick, lose their slickness quickly and are relatively expensive. Both types of nonstick pans will need to be discarded eventually. We recommend durable cookware made from stainless steel, cast iron or carbon steel, which don’t rely on forever chemicals and should last for life. — Mace Dent Johnson

Micromonsters

Five easy ways to reduce your microplastic exposure

-Drink tap, not bottled water

-Replace plastic dishes, utensils, and cutting boards in your kitchen.

-Replace non-stick pans for cooking.

-Never microwave in plastic

-Choose clothing made from wool, cotton, silk or linen instead of polyester.

Plastic is YUCK – Health4earth

Plastic is YUCK

This is excellent from USPIRG

When it comes to plastic, what goes around comes around. And not in a good way.We like to think plastic is gone for good after we throw it in the recycling bin or trash can. But plastic doesn’t just disappear. Instead, it finds its way back to us in the food we eat, in the water we drink, and even in the very air we breathe.The more we learn, the more concerned we become about plastic. It’s not only trashing our environment, it’s also getting into our bodies. That’s information you should be aware of and might want to pass on to your friends and neighbors.Let’s take a look at the ways in which the plastic we throw out eventually comes back to haunt us:Plastic is in our food. (Yuck.)Believe it or not, plastic particles called microplastics have been found in countless food items. Marine animals routinely mistake tiny microplastics for food. When we eat fish, shrimp or shellfish, we may eat the plastic these animals once consumed.1Plastic isn’t only in seafood. Microplastics are contaminating soil, and plants may absorb them through their root systems. This means that plastic may be finding its way into carrots, lettuce, potatoes and other common vegetables that we eat.2It's also in our water. (Yuck.)Microplastics are tiny. So tiny, in fact, that they can easily bypass standard water filtration systems. Studies have detected microplastics in tap water samples from cities all over the world.3If you think bottled water is plastic-free, think again. A single liter of bottled water may contain an average of 240,000 detectable plastic fragments, largely shedding from the bottle itself and the capping process.4Plastic is even in the air we breathe. (Yikes.)Because microplastics are lightweight, wind easily sweeps up plastic fibers from car tires, degraded trash and even polyester clothing. These airborne plastics can travel thousands of miles, settling in city streets, parks and everywhere in between. And when they’re airborne, people unknowingly inhale them.5We already have plenty of plastic. But they keep making more and more.If current trends hold, 1.2 billion tons of plastic could be manufactured each year by 2050. To put this number into perspective, the cumulative total would be enough to completely cover the U.S. in a layer of plastic that’s ankle-deep.6At PIRG, we refuse to let this become our future.We’re urging grocers to reduce unnecessary plastic packaging and petitioning the Environmental Protection Agency to enact meaningful limits on microplastics in drinking water. And by raising public awareness of plastic’s problems, we’re working to generate the groundswell of support that’s necessary for meaningful change.But we can’t do it without you. Our work relies on the dedication of members like you who refuse to let the plastics industry dictate the health of our families and the future of our planet.Thank you for standing with us,Faye Park
President

P.S. Problems this big demand all hands on deck. You can help us reduce plastic waste and pollution with a donation today.

1. Lisa Frank, “New study finds microplastics in commonly eaten seafood,” Environment America, January 27, 2025.
2. Kate Peterson, “There is an alarming amount of microplastics in farm soil–and our food supply,” Civil Eats, January 27, 2021.
3. Tao Sun, Yuefa Teng, Chenglong Ji, Fei Li, Xiujuan Shan and Huifeng Wu, “Global prevalence of microplastics in tap water systems: Abundance, characteristics, drivers and knowledge gaps,” Science of the Total Environment, June 15, 2024.
4. Vicki Contie, “Plastic particles in bottled water,” National Institutes of Health, January 23, 2024.
5. Ally Hirschlag and Martha Henriques, “The air throughout our homes is infused with microplastics. But there are things you can do to breathe less of them,” BBC, April 11, 2026.
6. Leslie Kaufman, “The climate impact of our insatiable plastic addiction,” Bloomberg, December 30, 2022.Your donation will power our dedicated staff of organizers, policy experts and attorneys who drive all of our campaigns in the public interest, from banning toxic pesticides and moving us beyond plastic, to saving our antibiotics and being your consumer watchdog, to protecting our environment and our democracy. None of our work would be possible without the support of people just like you.

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World Refill Day, June 16

Reduce your plastic, fill a bottle or a container

Refill your own container with bulk items. It reduces plastic and I think it saves you money, too!

Join the ⭐#5DayChallenge to reuse.⭐ World Refill Day is June 16, but let’s make reuse a habit all week long and beyond.

☕ Choose a new reusable plastic-free swap each day or stick with one that works for you. Whether it’s refilling your coffee cup, reusing containers for takeaway food, or shopping packaging-free options—every swap counts.🔃

#GlobalRefill#WorldRefillDay#Reuse#Reduce#ZeroWaste#PlasticPollutes

What is World Refill Day?
World Refill Day is a global awareness day spearheaded by City to Sea, an award-winning UK-based environmental charity working to stop plastic pollution at source. The day asks individuals, businesses, and policymakers to choose reuse over single-use, whether that means refilling a water bottle, bringing a reusable cup to the coffee shop, or shopping at a packaging-free store. It sits alongside the Refill app, which now lists hundreds of thousands of free water refill points across more than 30 countries.

Bring your reusable water bottle.

World Cup and Plastic Pollution

Tell the World Cup to allow reusable water bottles!

Tell FIFA: Reverse the restriction on reusable water bottles at World Cup stadiums. Tell FIFA: We Want Our Reusable Bottles at the World Cup! | Story of Stuff


But FIFA just decided late last week to no longer allow any reusable water bottles at World Cup stadiums, so sports fans can’t beat the heat without resorting to wasteful disposable plastic bottles.1


Access to water is critical to fans’ comfort and safety — especially in sweltering summer weather. And spectators should be able to stay hydrated without producing plastic waste that will stick around as pollution for centuries.


Tell FIFA: Reverse the restriction on reusable water bottles at World Cup stadiums. Tell FIFA: Allow reusable water bottles at World Cup stadiums


FIFA had originally said that some types of reusable bottles would be allowed, before suddenly reversing course.2


It’s a move that will only create more plastic trash at a time when plastic pollution is already out of control. Every 16 hours, Americans throw out enough plastic to fill a sports stadium up to the brim.3


Every disposable plastic bottle we use and toss has the potential to pollute our environment and even threaten our health.


A lot of the plastic we throw away ends up in landfills, where it can break down into tiny, polluting particles and leach harmful chemicals into our soil and water.4


And some is incinerated — a process that emits toxic chemicals into the air. Air pollution from burning plastic can emit chemicals known to cause cancer, reproductive harm, birth defects and other health problems.5


Why pollute our world and risk our health with disposable plastic bottles, when a reusable solution is right in front of us?


Allowing reusable water bottles in stadiums is the right thing to do. Add your name and ask FIFA to allow reusable bottles.


Some sports stadiums have already demonstrated that allowing fans to bring their own reusable bottles is a safe, simple way to prevent pollution.


Every World Cup spectator should be able to do the same.


Ask FIFA to allow reusable water bottles at World Cup stadiums today. Tell FIFA: Allow reusable water bottles at World Cup stadiums


1. Scott Thompson, “FIFA bans refillable water bottles from World Cup stadiums despite original rules stating otherwise,” Fox News, June 4, 2026.
2. Scott Thompson, “FIFA bans refillable water bottles from World Cup stadiums despite original rules stating otherwise,” Fox News, June 4, 2026.
3. Celeste Meiffren-Swango and James Horrox, “Trash in America,” PIRG, December 9, 2025.
4. “Plastic planet: How tiny plastic particles are polluting our soil,” United Nations Environment Programme, last accessed April 28, 2026.
5. Celeste Meiffren-Swango, James Horrox, Grace Vickers & Carol Li, “”Chemical recycling”: What you need to know,” PIRG, July 14, 2025.

World Oceans Day

Today we celebrate our oceans, which are vital to the health of our planet.

 

Make it a plastic-free day.

Our oceans are warming at a staggering rate which has an effect on our weather and the health of our planet. Besides making it plastic-free decide how you can reduce your fossil fuels use by driving less and using less energy it your home!

Our oceans need protection!

Below is from the Carbon Almanac:

In December 2022, governments around the world agreed to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. Now just over three years later, 10% of the ocean is officially protected. To meet the 2030 goal, an area the size of the Indian Ocean still needs to come under protection.  

With a big step towards the 2030 goal, Papua New Guinea recently established the 200,000 sq. km Western Manus Marine Protected Area which is the largest the country has designated to date.

As we think about our waters, visit the World Ocean Day website for more information on the role they play and how to take action.