Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

The Zero Waste Solution

It’s time to modernize recycling in Connecticut.

Connecticut burns more trash per person than any other state in the country, generating half a million tons of toxic ash every year. If we don’t improve recycling rates, we’ll run out of landfill space for incinerator ash in six years.

Recognizing this, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has set a goal of keeping 58% of our trash out of landfills and incinerators — but Connecticut has been stuck at 30% for the last decade.

The good news is, we have the tools to get to 58% and even further to zero waste. Communities like Nantucket are already keeping more than 90% of their trash out of landfills and incinerators and Connecticut towns like Darien and South Windsor are over 50%.

In order to get on the path to zero waste, we need to reduce the amount of resources we use, reuse what we can, and recycle the rest. Governor Malloy has created a Modernizing Recycling Working Group and we are calling on the governor and the working group to implement commonsense solutions, including:

Updating the Bottle Bill to include juice containers
Enforcing existing recycling mandates
Removing organics from the waste stream
Resisting attempts to incentivize incineration

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News Release | ConnPIRG Education Fund | Consumer Protection

Survey Finds Dangerous Toys on Store Shelves

Dangerous or toxic toys can still be found on America’s store shelves, according to Connecticut Public Interest Research Group’s 27th annual Trouble in Toyland report.

Report | ConnPIRG Education Fund | Consumer Protection

Trouble in Toyland

The 2012 Trouble in Toyland report is the 27th annual U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) survey of toy safety. In this report, U.S. PIRG provides safety guidelines for consumers when purchasing toys for small children and provides examples of toys currently on store shelves that may pose potential safety hazards.

News Release | ConnPIRG Education Fund | Consumer Protection

New Survey Shows Free Checking Widely Available At Small Banks But Banks Still Hiding Fees from Consumers

A survey of hundreds of banks and credit unions in 24 states and the District of Columbia found that free checking remains available at more than 6 out of 10 small banks and credit unions but was only found at one-quarter of surveyed big banks (those with over $10 billion in deposits). The survey released today by the Connecticut Public Interest Research Group also revealed that fewer than half of branches surveyed obeyed their legal duty to fully disclose fees to prospective customers on the first request, while 12% provided no fee information at all.

Report | ConnPIRG Education Fund | Consumer Protection

Big Banks Bigger Fees

Since Congress largely deregulated consumer deposit (checking and savings) accounts beginning in the early 1980s, the state PIRGs have tracked bank deposit account fee changes and documented the banks’ long-term strategy to raise fees, invent new fees and make it harder to avoid fees.

Blog Post | Consumer Protection, Health Care

Here’s that Rx refill you didn’t order | Abe Scarr

Is your pharmacy refilling your prescription without your knowledge or approval, and billing your insurance company for the cost?
If so, it’s the latest example of waste we shouldn't tolerate in our health care system.

Add new comment

Pages

News Release | ConnPIRG Education Fund | Consumer Protection

Survey Finds Dangerous Toys on Store Shelves

Dangerous or toxic toys can still be found on America’s store shelves, according to Connecticut Public Interest Research Group’s 27th annual Trouble in Toyland report.

News Release | ConnPIRG Education Fund | Consumer Protection

New Survey Shows Free Checking Widely Available At Small Banks But Banks Still Hiding Fees from Consumers

A survey of hundreds of banks and credit unions in 24 states and the District of Columbia found that free checking remains available at more than 6 out of 10 small banks and credit unions but was only found at one-quarter of surveyed big banks (those with over $10 billion in deposits). The survey released today by the Connecticut Public Interest Research Group also revealed that fewer than half of branches surveyed obeyed their legal duty to fully disclose fees to prospective customers on the first request, while 12% provided no fee information at all.

News Release | ConnPIRG | Consumer Protection

Over 30 Years, Car Lemon Law Saves Connecticut Consumers Over $60 Million

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the enactment of the Connecticut Car Lemon Law, the first- in-the-nation consumer protection that has returned more than $60 million in refunds and replacement automobiles to Connecticut consumers. Its passage in Connecticut was followed by similar laws in every state in the country and several foreign countries.

Media Hit | Consumer Protection

CT News Junkie: Lawmakers and Health Advocates Propose Ban on Chemical In Paper Receipts

People have begun looking to individual states to enact protective legislation because of the federal government’s inability to adequately address the issue, she said. And Connecticut has been a leader in tackling the issue, in large part thanks to the work of many lawmakers who recognize the gravity of the situation, Hulick said.

News Release | Consumer Protection, Financial Reform

Proposed Interchange Fee Reduction is a Win for Consumers

Today ConnPIRG applauded the proposed regulations of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors to decrease swipe fees on debit card transactions. Consumers however, hope to see the Fed adopt a much greater reduction in interchange fees in the final rule due in April, 2011.

Pages

Report | ConnPIRG Education Fund | Consumer Protection

Trouble in Toyland

The 2012 Trouble in Toyland report is the 27th annual U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) survey of toy safety. In this report, U.S. PIRG provides safety guidelines for consumers when purchasing toys for small children and provides examples of toys currently on store shelves that may pose potential safety hazards.

Report | ConnPIRG Education Fund | Consumer Protection

Big Banks Bigger Fees

Since Congress largely deregulated consumer deposit (checking and savings) accounts beginning in the early 1980s, the state PIRGs have tracked bank deposit account fee changes and documented the banks’ long-term strategy to raise fees, invent new fees and make it harder to avoid fees.

Report | Consumer Protection

Trouble in Toyland

The 2011 Trouble in Toyland report is our 26th annual survey of toy safety. In this report, we provide safety guidelines for consumers when purchasing toys for young children and provide examples of toys currently on store shelves that may pose potential safety hazards.

Report | Consumer Protection

Big Banks, Bigger Fees

Since Congress largely deregulated consumer deposit (checking and savings) accounts beginning in the early 1980s, the PIRGs have tracked bank deposit account fee changes and documented the banks’ long-term strategy to raise fees, invent new fees and make it harder to avoid fees.

Report | Consumer Protection

Halfway to the CFPB: An AFR Progress Report on "Standing Up" the New Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

CFPB Implementation Team staff are making significant progress in their efforts to both build an effective agency and be ready to perform required functions by the transfer date (July 21, 2011). Based on our analysis of several key metrics, on the date halfway between passage and startup, the CFPB Implementation Team is properly focusing on key goals and outcomes. Moreover, the high-quality of its early hires will give it the CFPB the ability to significantly broaden and accelerate its activities over the next six months.

Pages

Blog Post | Consumer Protection, Health Care

Here’s that Rx refill you didn’t order | Abe Scarr

Is your pharmacy refilling your prescription without your knowledge or approval, and billing your insurance company for the cost?
If so, it’s the latest example of waste we shouldn't tolerate in our health care system.

Add new comment

Blog Post | Consumer Protection

ConnPIRG Testifies in Support of S.B. 1176, “An Act Concerning Electric Rate Relief” | Allison Cairo

Jennifer Hatch, ConnPIRG Program Associate, testified before the Connecticut General Assembly Energy and Technology Committee in Support of S.B. 1176, “An Act Concerning Electric Rate Relief”.

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