AUSTIN - Plastic pollution is killing our wildlife. That’s why Environment Texas is announcing a new campaign to ban harmful, single-use plastic food containers. Polystyrene, commonly known as styrofoam, is one of the worst and most common types of plastic. According to the EPA, Americans throw out 70 million polystyrene foam cups every day, and that doesn’t include bowls and takeout containers. Tons of our discarded plastic ends up in the environment -- on our lands and in our waterways. More than 8 million tons end up in our oceans every year, the equivalent of five plastic bags for every foot of coastline.
New data obtained by Environment Texas from the Austin Independent School District (AISD) shows lead has been found in the drinking water of five more Austin schools. The new data follows the revelation last September of nine schools and facilities which tested positive for the toxic heavy metal. Environment Texas applauded the district's commitment to install filters or replace water fountains, but called for additional testing, greater transparency and full remediation.
AUSTIN, TX –Today thousands of Whole Foods shoppers joined with farmers and environmental leaders to deliver more than 90,000 petition signatures to the company’s headquarters in Austin. The petition urges Whole Foods to hold its corporate meat suppliers accountable for the widespread water contamination caused by their irresponsible farming and waste management practices. The attempted petition drop follows three letters sent to the company in the last several months - all of which have been ignored by the company.
HOUSTON – The amount of power generated by solar photovoltaic (PV) installations in Houston continued to increase last year, according to a new report from Environment Texas Research and Policy Center. The report, Shining Cities 2018: How Smart Local Policies Are Expanding Solar Power in America, found that Houston went from 8 megawatts (MW) of solar PV in 2016 to 9.5 MW in 2017, a 19% gain.
Environment Texas Research and Policy Center is part of The Public Interest Network, which operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world and a strategic approach to getting things done.
