The state bottle bill establishes a deposit return system that, when functioning properly, can slash plastic pollution and increase recycling rates by placing a refundable deposit on bottles and cans. Here’s the thing though: California’s isn’t working. It’s a plastic problem that should be a simple fix, but instead, it’s failing people and the planet.…
Investment in improved return infrastructure is welcome but must include enhanced oversight of retailers’ compliance with their takeback responsibilities The California agency CalRecycle has announced a new budget proposal committing nearly half of the $600 million surplus it currently holds from unredeemed bottle and can deposits to improving the recycling rate of the 26 billion…
FEBRUARY 2022 SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST, CALIFORNIA Photo Essay by Michael O’Heaney. Special thanks to Hugh Bialecki for capturing some of these images. John Muir said that “Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” After reams of paper evidence, hours of testimony over Zoom, and dozens…
Today the Story of Stuff Project released a new report California’s Bottle Bill: The Path to Redemption, revealing a system failing Californians and the environment. A landmark environmental law, the state bottle bill has diverted billions of bottles from landfills, incinerators and the environment, but now finds itself languishing in serious decline. The report shares…
Thank you for helping to investigate California’s collapsing recycling system for bottles and cans! A successful deposit return system is built on a network of convenient return options. Many of the statewide retailers are required by law to redeem bottles and cans, but anecdotal evidence suggests this is not happening. Can you help us get…
Today, we’re doing something different for a nonprofit: we’re doing the giving. This Giving Tuesday, we’re inviting you to apply to our Grassroots Grants Program! We established the Grassroots Grants Program in 2017 to support small organizations and groups organizing against water privatization and plastic pollution. Since we launched, we have supported 70 grassroots groups…
St. James, Lousiana has garnered international attention this year, becoming one of the world’s highest-profile environmental site fights as the small community campaigns against giant corporations’ petrochemical developments. Two weeks ago, we released a new video featuring RISE St. James’ Sharon Lavigne, a tireless fighter for the rights of her community members in Louisiana’s Cancer…
The The Story of Stuff Project Community, together with our partners at Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, successfully pushed toymaker Mattel to cancel the planned release of its “digital nanny” device, Aristotle. The internet-connected device, which included a microphone and camera, was designed to live in a child’s bedroom from birth and be a constant…
