Jan 12, 2022

Holding Producers Accountable for the Waste They Create

Manufacturers should not be allowed to reap profits while their toxic products and packaging harm our health and environment. Producer responsibility laws have the potential to drastically cut our waste generation and disposal, as well as their harms. And all while holding producers accountable.

pile of trash bags full of waste
Jan 06, 2022

Polluters Latest Greenwashing Scam? Pretending Plastics Are Part of the “Circular Economy”

During my recent stint on parental leave, I tried to disconnect from my Zero Waste work. But I quickly realized that there’s no off-switch for corporate greenwashing. So, I’d like to set the record straight. What does circular economy really mean? And why will single-use plastics and waste-burning technologies never have a place in it? Here are the answers.

plastic six recycling symbol
Dec 09, 2021

16 Zero Waste Gifts for Your Loved Ones this Holiday Season

It’s the most wonderful (and wasteful) time of the year! As retailers bombard your inbox this holiday season, we challenge you to think outside the box – literally. To help you out, we’ve crafted a list of our top Zero Waste gifts to give this year.

Zero Waste gifts wrapped in cloth
Nov 17, 2021

State Would Deny Saugus Ash Landfill Expansion

“State officials would be absolutely right to deny the expansion of this already massive, polluting landfill,” said Kirstie Pecci, director of CLF’s Zero Waste Project. “No new landfills or expansions of landfills are allowed in an Area of Critical Environmental Concern. The Saugus Ash Landfill is in the middle of one of these areas, so it is not allowed to expand vertically. End of story.”

Landfill in Saugus, MA
Nov 04, 2021

Recycling Prices Continue to Rise – But at What Cost?

Over the past few years, recycling prices across the U.S. have soared, with some cities and towns now spending millions of dollars on their programs. To understand the financial burden our communities are facing, I spent the better part of last year collecting recycling data from Massachusetts cities and towns. Here’s what I learned.

blue recycling bin
Sep 29, 2021

Cape Cod Commission Approves Expansion Plans for Polluting Bourne Ash Landfill

“Bourne is trading short-term economic gain for long-term pollution,” said Kirstie Pecci, Director of CLF’s Zero Waste Project. “The Bourne Landfill is already leaching toxic garbage juice into groundwater, and this expansion will only make matters worse. It’s time to stop looking for more places to bury waste and get serious about reducing trash before it reaches incinerators and landfills.”

landfill
Sep 21, 2021

Coventry Landfill Ordered to Treat Runoff for PFAS

“Toxic garbage water has no place in Lake Memphremagog or any of Vermont’s waters,” said CLF attorney Peter Blair. “Landfill leachate contains a toxic soup of chemicals, including PFAS, which cause serious health issues in humans and animals. Waste companies need to take responsibility for the damage they’re causing to our waters, and this new permit is a huge step towards making that happen in Vermont.”

Aerial view of Newport Vermont.
Sep 08, 2021

Boston’s First Zero Waste Shop Reminds Customers to Give Back to the Earth

Located in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts, Uvida Shop is the city’s first-ever Zero Waste store – a retail destination that sells products with no single-use plastic packaging. Owner and CEO Maria began this venture while studying environmental science and sustainability at UMass Boston.

Uvida Shop soap bars
Sep 08, 2021

How Plastic is Made Is Harmful to People and the Environment

Plastic is everywhere – even in the places you’d least expect, like chewing gum, tea bags, wet wipes, receipts, and microwaveable popcorn bags. Yet, manufacturers continue to make more and more plastic each year – even though how plastic is made fuels a toxic cycle of production, consumption, and disposal.

trash can filled with plastic waste