Join NYPIRG with Public Bank NYC to learn about the great benefits of public banking at the Queens Public Banking Town Hall!

TAKE ACTION TODAY! Urge the governor to include an expanded and modernized Bottle Bill in the proposed FY 2023-2024 Executive Budget.

It was 40 years ago that the highly effective New York State Returnable Container Act, commonly known as the "Bottle Bill," went into effect. 2023 is the time for it to be expanded and modernized! It is now essential that the governor hear from New Yorkers about the state’s continuing solid waste crisis. NYPIRG just launched a petition to demand action on recycling, so PLEASE SIGN TODAY!

The Bigger Better Bottle Bill was recently introduced in the New York State Legislature. This critical bill will increase recycling, reduce solid waste, and boost recycling accessibility. We are calling on the governor to prioritize it in the upcoming Executive Budget.

The state's solid waste crisis is at a critical level and recycling, reuse, and reduction rates must improve or else landfills will fill past capacity and incinerators will continue to spew toxic waste by burning garbage, often into environmental justice communities.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! Sign the petition to the governor today.

Reducing the amount of plastic waste – and waste in general – is a critical way to avoid "doomsday" environmental scenarios. The bill (A.10184/S.9164) to modernize and expand the Bottle Bill will do three main things:

1. Expand the Bottle Bill to include wine, spirits, hard cider, and most non-carbonated beverages. A deposit system can dramatically reduce litter and solid waste that would otherwise be discarded. Many other states have already added these containers to their laws.
2. Increase the deposit from 5 cents to 10 cents and use revenues to support recycling equity. States with higher deposit fees have higher redemption rates. Increasing the deposit could also generate more revenues for the state, with those additional funds being used to address limits on redemption options in low-income communities and other litter and solid waste problems.
3. Boost accessibility. Enforcement of the law is spotty. The update can boost enforcement and expand redemption centers in "food deserts" that limit consumers' ability to redeem their deposits.

Thank you for your help!

Even though Giving Tuesday has come and gone, NYPIRG still needs your support. Watch Eric Wood, NYPIRG's Hudson Valley Regional Coordinator, discuss our urgent campaign to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to clean, safe water. Then donate to NYPIRG!

NYPIRG once again participated in Giving Tuesday – a global day of generosity that unleashes the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. This year, we foucused on our fight to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to clean and safe water. Please join this fight and make your vital, tax-deductible contribution today!

Right now, New York’s water resources – like the Wallkill River in the Hudson Valley – are threatened by:

• Crumbling infrastructure
• Chemical and bacteria contamination
• Plastic and pesticide pollution
• Farm runoff
• Harmful algal blooms
• Fossil fuel development

And we are learning that cancer-causing PFAS chemicals, also known as forever chemicals, are popping up in more and more New York communities’ drinking water supplies every year. Overexposure to these toxic chemicals has already led to far too many life threatening illnesses, and we simply cannot allow people to be poisoned like this.

This past summer, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency posted guidance on this issue, acknowledging that PFAS are hazardous. But that is not enough – now we need stronger, enforceable regulations.

NYPIRG's staff – like Eric Wood, our Hudson Valley Regional Coordinator – have been working tirelessly, and we have already made great strides in protecting New York’s water quality:

• We won on standards that set maximum contaminant levels for 23 PFAS chemicals to 10 parts per trillion.
• We were just part of a huge victory when the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act passed overwhelmingly in the recent election.
• We helped secure $400 million for the Environmental Protection Fund and $500 million in funding for New York’s infrastructure.
• We successfully pushed for the revamping of the state’s Freshwater Wetlands Regulatory Program to protect up to one million additional acres.
• We created our "What's in My Water?" web tool to provide information about your local drinking water supply.

But there is much hard work left to do, so the fight continues:

• There is no safe exposure level for PFAS, so drinking water standards should be set at two parts per trillion to truly protect people's health.
• There are still thousands of unregulated chemicals that could contaminate our water supply.
• New York still has over $80 billion in water needs.

For all of this, we are up against serious, big-money opposition from powerful special interests. That is where you come in. Working together – and with your crucial financial support – we can come out on top. To keep NYPIRG strong and effective, please make your generous, 100% tax-deductible donation today!

Thank you so much for your loyal support, and we look forward to partnering with you in 2023 and beyond as we strive for a cleaner, safer, healthier future!

Make Polluters Pay!

At rallies all across New York State, NYPIRG joinined the NY Renews coalition to launch the Climate, Jobs & Justice Campaign.

When the state's landmark climate law was passed back in 2019, it was a huge win for the grassroots climate justice movement in New York. But three years after its passage, our hard-fought climate act still is not fully funded. This is a dangerous precedent that we cannot accept.

We are fighting for a package that will build renewable energy for all and protect our communities from extreme weather and pollution – while ensuring that the biggest polluters pay what they owe! Environmental policy priorities include the Climate Change Superfund Act and the Fossil Fuel Subsidies Elimination Act.

Thank you for your help!

Public Bank NYC gave out "awards" to the worst Wall Street banks – including worst investor in the fossil fuel industry, worst "redliner," worst supporter of luxury housing development, and more!

On Friday, September 23, NYPIRG – along with Donald Ross’s family, friends, and colleagues – held an event to celebrate his amazing life. It was a great success, and we had a fantastic time proudly honoring Donald, NYPIRG’s first executive director and a true champion for the public interest. We are pleased to share this event program video featuring the lineup of guest speakers and the tribute video that highlighted Donald’s lifetime of hard, visionary work and the incredible, lasting impact that he had on so many.

Special thanks to everyone who was a part of this wonderful celebration!

2022 Pokey & Schleppie Awards

The NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign and TransitCenter rolled out the red carpet to release our report on the slowest bus and most unreliable bus lines in New York City!

And the "winners" are: