Florida: "Governor Vetoes Bill That Would Halt Plastic Straw Bans"
"Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has vetoed a bill that would have prevented Florida’s local governments from banning plastic straws."
Source: AP, 05/13/2019
Consumer
"Maine Becomes 1st State To Ban Single-Use Foam Containers"
"Maine has banned single-use food and drink containers made from polystyrene foam, commonly known as Styrofoam, becoming the first state to do so."
Source: AP, 05/02/2019
"Starbucks Promised a Recyclable Drink Lid. Don’t Believe the Hype."
"The new Starbucks coffee cup lid, which is being rolled out with great green fanfare in six cities this summer, was supposed be an environmental milestone. Starbucks promised that its latest design innovation, a “clear, recyclable” plastic drink cap that funnels liquid through a slightly raised area, would soon replace more than a billion plastic straws each year."
Source: The Intercept, 04/25/2019
Is Your Favorite River Endangered? Check the List.
The latest release of the annual endangered rivers list provides boatloads of environmental reporting angles, including climate change-related threats like flooding and drought. This week’s TipSheet has the backstory and the new top-10 list, plus 10 suggested starting points for stories and a half-dozen key reporting resources.
SEJ Publication Types:
Topics on the Beat:
Region:
Visibility:
As PG&E Filed For Bankruptcy, Swaroop Kept Fighting For Energy Justice
"Shalini Swaroop is general counsel for Marin Clean Energy, the first of a new breed of electricity providers in California known as community choice aggregators, or CCAs. When Marin Clean Energy launched in 2010, it gave San Francisco Bay Area residents a government-run alternative to Pacific Gas & Electric, the monopoly utility that recently filed for bankruptcy protection amid huge wildfire liabilities."
Source: LA Times, 04/17/2019
Styrofoam Facts — Why You May Want To Bring Your Own Cup
What makes styrofoam good — like its insulating, shock-absorbing qualities that make it suitable for hot coffee cups, coolers, helmets and packing material — is also what makes it bad … for the environment, that is. This month’s Backgrounder looks at the technical and environmental aspects of this long-troubling plastic pollution source.
SEJ Publication Types:
Topics on the Beat:
Region:
Visibility:
Styrofoam Container Bans May Be Trending
The first state ban on styrofoam food containers makes this a good time to see how things stand with styrofoam in your area, as the controversial plastic draws negative attention for overflowing landfills, causing litter and polluting waters. More, plus story ideas and reporting resources, in this week’s TipSheet.
SEJ Publication Types:
Topics on the Beat:
Region:
Visibility:
Want Pesticides With That Kale?
Seemingly healthy foods might not be as healthy as consumers believe. A new list tracking pesticide residue tells a different story, explains this week’s SEJournal TipSheet. Find out what iconic health food is on the “Dirty Dozen” list and which healthy standby makes the “Clean Fifteen.” Plus, the backstory, why pesticide residue matters and resources to report on the issue.
SEJ Publication Types:
Topics on the Beat:
Region:
Visibility:
"Plastic Bags to Be Banned in New York State"
"New York State lawmakers have agreed to impose a statewide ban on most types of single-use plastic bags from retail sales, changing a way of life for millions of New Yorkers as legislators seek to curb an unsightly and omnipresent source of litter."
Source: NY Times, 03/29/2019
Pages
Advertisement 
