July Briefing Zero Waste

What a waste: At least 30% of trash could be composted instead of buried or burned

Each year, America landfills and incinerates enough organic material to fill a line of 18-wheelers stretching from New York to Los Angeles 10 times over.

On June 13, U.S. PIRG released "Composting in America," a report by U.S. PIRG Education Fund, which shows that we could be composting at least 30 percent of our waste stream -- and in the process pulling more carbon out of the atmosphere, returning more nutrients to our soil, and using fewer toxic chemical fertilizers.

"One person's trash is another person's treasure -- especially when that trash can be turned into compost," said Faye Park, president of U.S. PIRG Education Fund. "We constantly say to reduce, reuse and recycle. By reusing food waste and yard waste, we reduce our garbage and the negative impact it has on the earth and our health."

"With composting, our organic waste -- food scraps, paper towels, yard trimmings -- could help us instead of hurt us," said Alex Truelove, Zero Waste campaign director for U.S. PIRG Education Fund.

Read the report.

Composting all organic waste -- including food scraps and yard trimmings -- could eliminate nearly one-third of all materials sent to landfills and trash incinerators across the United States.

Hold the Antibiotics: Wendy's

It's time for Wendy's to get antibiotics off the menu

The fast food chain Wendy's has a role to play in preventing a future in which antibiotics no longer work to protect our health. As shareholders in the company gathered on... FULL STORY

PIRG Consumer Watchdog

Flying this summer? You'll want to know your rights.

Everybody knows somebody who has a "bad airline story" involving a long flight delay, sitting on the tarmac, being "bumped," losing baggage or some nightmare combination... FULL STORY

Zero Out Toxics

Claire's recalls more sparkly children's makeup after FDA finds asbestos

Like the teen star herself, Claire's JoJo Siwa Makeup Set is colorful, sparkly and shimmery -- but it's now been found to contain asbestos. On June 9, Claire's voluntarily... FULL STORY

Stop the Overuse of Antibiotics

Why does agribusiness keep overusing antibiotics? Consider 'Pig Zero.'

"Don't wait for Pig Zero," declared the poster, featuring a pig peeking through a giant blue zero, that appeared at last year's swine industry trade show. A New York Times... FULL STORY

VIDEO: Right to Repair

Instead of throwing away our cell phones, tablets and other devices when they break, we're imagining a new system in which we reuse, repair and rebuild. Our Right to Repair campaign director, Nathan Proctor, explains our plan to give every consumer and small business access to the parts, tools and service information they need to repair products so we can keep things in use and reduce waste in a new video. Check it out: