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Workshop on Rhode Island Clean Diesel Program
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Clean Water Action, on behalf of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, invites you to attend a free workshop on Rhode Island's Clean Diesel Program.
Rhode Island Not Preventing Mercury Pollution from Thermostats
Providence – Today Clean Water Action released a report documenting that Rhode Island is below the national average for preventing mercury pollution from thermostats and far behind the national leaders. The report, Turning Up The Heat, also finds that thermostat makers have collected less than 5% of the thermostats coming out of service over the last 10 years. The House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources is scheduled to hear a bill that would prevent mercury pollution from thermostats on Thursday, February 4 at the rise of the House in room 205.
Turning Up the Heat: Exposing the manufacturers' lackluster mercury thermostat collection program
Turning Up the Heat exposes the dismal results of the manufacturers’
voluntary mercury thermostat collection program. The Thermostat
Recycling Corporation (TRC) has collected less than 5% of the
approximately 100 tons of mercury from mercury thermostats
removed from service in the last decade. The collection program in
Rhode Island is below the national average for preventing mercury
pollution from thermostats and far behind the national leaders. The
report recommends that states adopt strong laws, with financial
incentives and performance standards for recycling mercury thermostats,
to drastically improve the TRC program and prevent mercury pollution.
We Can't Wait Any Longer on Coal Ash
We can't wait to act on coal ash! Americans deserve clean energy. We shouldn't be poisoned by dirty coal plants and coal ash, and then be asked to foot the bill. Tell the President and the EPA.
Coal ash is a concentrated toxic by-product of burning coal and is a growing problem across the nation. The EPA and the National Academy of Sciences research show that coal ash is toxic, and threatens human health.
Yet Big Coal has been fighting any change to the status quo, lobbying against these proposed regulations and asking the nation’s energy regulators to charge ratepayers for any coal ash cleanup charges.
Don't let Rhode Island go backwards!
Covanta's Mid-Conn incinerator in Hartford Connecticut burns 2,000 tons of trash per day.
© Roger Smith/Clean Water Action
For 15 years Rhode Island has banned trash incineration because it's dirty, dangerous, and it burns resources that we can recycle.
Now, out-of-state energy giant Covanta is spending thousands of dollars a month to convince our elected officials to take a giant step backward and undo the incinerator ban.
Over the last several years, several companies have proposed legislation to get around Rhode Island's incinerator ban. At every turn, the legislature rejected those plans.
Take it to the Floor - Tell the Senate Environment Committee Diesel Needs to Move Now!
Construction is responsible for a whopping 40% of all mobile diesel emissions in the Northeast. It's time that our policies reflect government concern for the health of the workers and the public in and around those construction sites, particularly when they are located in dense urban areas - the Diesel Emission Reduction Act does just that.
Say No to Mercury Pollution
In 2005, Rhode Island banned the sale of thermostats that contain mercury. However, remaining thermostats in Rhode Island homes contain over 3,600 pounds of mercury.
Now we need to require thermostat manufacturers to take responsibility for their toxic products and ensure that mercury thermostats are safely collected and recycled when they are removed from use. The Mercury Thermostat Pollution Prevention Act requires manufacturers to finance the collection and recycling of their mercury thermostats and pay a $5 incentive for each thermostat returned to their program.
Cut Diesel Emissions, Demand Clean Construction Now!
Regionally, construction equipment is responsible for 40% of all mobile diesel pollution in the Northeast. In Rhode Island construction equipment emits more toxic diesel soot than trucks, buses or even airplanes. Each year 51 premature deaths, 80 heart attacks and numerous other problems such as cancer, respiratory diseases, asthma attacks and cardiovascular disease are caused by diesel pollution in our state.
Support Local Initiatives - Providence Pushing Clean Construction
Providence County is ranked in the worst 6% of all U.S. counties for health problems caused by diesel emissions. Lung cancer, heart and asthma attacks, chronic respiratory diseases, impaired lung growth in children, and premature death all result from our exposure to diesel.
Be Water Wise - Help Protect Rhode Island's Water Supply!
Wasting Water Hurts the Environment and our Economy
Rhode Island's water is shared by all of us. Drinking water, tourism, economic development, fisheries and much of our recreation depends on the state's clean flowing rivers and streams. With proper planning and use, the region's ample rainfall will continue to provide adequate water for Rhode Island's needs in the future.
Unfortunately, Rhode Island doesn't have a plan in place that will ensure enough water is available to supply all of our needs. It's time to share our water more wisely. Support the Rhode Island Shared Water Resources Act.
Support the Energy Independence & Climate Solutions Act
We Must Take Action Now
The Rhode Island Energy Independence & Climate Solutions Act will protect our environment and revitalize our economy. Global warming threatens Rhode Island's environment, economy, and infrastructure. Warming temperatures and a shifting climate threaten delicately balanced ecosystems and the ability of natural species in Rhode Island and Narragansett Bay to survive. The costs of inaction to the threat of global warming are great; addressing this problem now through measured efforts is more responsible and less costly than reacting to what effects will come our way.
Take Action: Urge your lawmaker to support the Energy Independence & Climate Solutions Act!
Electronics Take Back Campaign
Discarded computers and other electronics (e-waste) are the fastest growing portion of our waste stream. The National Safety Council estimates that there are 300 to 500 million obsolete computers in the U.S. ready for disposal.
Clean Water Action led the successful Rhode Island campaign to pass the Electronic Waste Prevention, Reuse, and Recycling Act. Our new law will not only keep computers and televisions out of the landfill, but it will require manufacturers to pay for collecting and recycling their old products.
Rhode Island Diesel Pollution Initiative: Protecting Clean Air in the Ocean State
In Rhode Island, toxic Diesel soot is responsible for 51 premature deaths 80 heart attacks, 900 asthma attacks, 1,400 respiratory symptoms in children, and 5,500 missed work days. At a minimum, the health effects of diesel pollution cost Rhode Island $300 million annually.
The Rhode Island Diesel Pollution Initiative advocates for the use of diesel particulate filters (DPF's) as a means to reduce toxic diesel pollution. DPF's are effective exhaust filters that can capture up to 90% of toxic particulate matter emitted by a diesel engine. The DPI was instrumental in passing legislation to clean up Rhode Island school buses with these exhaust filters, and by passing a statewide Anti-Idling law which limits idling in Rhode Island to five minutes. This year the DPI wants to see government lead by example and limit diesel emissions from diesel vehicles and equipment used in public works projects. Public money shouldn't create a public health risk!
Rhode Island Zero Mercury Campaign
Mercury containing thermostats release mercury into the environment when they are handled or disposed hadhazardly. Exposure to mercury, even at a low level, causes damage to the functioning and development of the nervous system both in utero and in growing children.
Most Rhode Islanders have a mercury thermostat in their home. Of the 665,000 thermostats in Rhode Island homes, there are 552,500 mercury thermostats. Since approximately 3% of those get replaced annually, over 120 pounds of mercury could be released into the environment each year.
Rhode Island Campaign for Producer Responsibility
When local governments took on responsibility for solid waste more than a century ago, household waste was primarily coal ash leftover from heating and cooking. The rest was mainly food and a small amount of simple manufactured products like paper and glass. Today manufactured products and their packaging make up 75% of what we throw away.
Most manufacturers don't pay anything to cover the costs of waste disposal. In fact, they're designing products to be thrown away - and taxpayers are picking up the tab.Local governments today are stuck with ever increasing costs for the recycling and disposal of computers, cameras, pharmaceuticals, batteries, and countless other consumer products.