People across the state and country are exposed to PFAS chemicals, which are linked to cancer and other illnesses, in consumer products, in food and food packaging and even in their drinking water. Tell your legislators to pass the PFAS Protection Act.
People across the state and country are exposed to PFAS chemicals, which are linked to cancer and other illnesses, in consumer products, in food and food packaging and even in their drinking water. Tell your legislators to pass the PFAS Protection Act.
Democracy
2021 Legislative Session: Public Interest Victories and Losses
Maryland lawmakers advanced several PIRG-backed policies to improve our democracy, protect public health, reduce organic waste, and more. See what bills passed, and which did not.
Solid Waste
Nation's strongest plastic waste bill returns to Congress
The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act would install a national bottle bill, ban some of the worst single-use plastics, and shift more financial responsibility for collecting and processing plastic waste onto plastics producers.
Tell Whole Foods: Move Beyond Plastic
Whole Foods has led on plastics in the past, but the company recently got an "F" in a report by As You Sow for failing to tackle plastic pollution. Tell Whole Foods' CEO to get rid single-use plastics in its stores.
Public Health
Maryland PIRG looks to build on progress for public health, democracy
Last year saw major Maryland PIRG-backed initiatives take effect or become law. In 2021, we’re looking to take on toxic PFAS "forever chemicals," unnecessary barriers to voting, unfair restrictions on our right to repair the stuff we own, the myriad challenges Marylanders face as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and more.
We can't do it without you.
Maryland PIRG is your advocate for the public interest, speaking out for healthier, safer, more secure lives for all of us.
News & Research
News Release | U.S. PIRG Education Fund
AUSTIN, Texas -- U.S. PIRG Education Fund , Environment America Research & Policy Center, and Student PIRG sent 59,000 petitions and a letter signed by more than 40 state lawmakers Thursday to Whole Foods urging the company to commit to a comprehensive plan for phasing out single-use plastic packaging from its stores. This follows a March 2021 letter signed by more than 130 advocacy and community groups calling on the national supermarket chain to adopt a bold response to the plastic pollution crisis.
Report | U.S. PIRG Education Fund
We surveyed nearly 1,000 personal care products from 26 popular cosmetics companies and scored them on ingredient safety and disclosure. The major takeaway: most companies need to do a lot more to inform their customers about what ingredients are in their products.
News Release | U.S. PIRG Education Fund
A new report that surveys nearly 1,000 personal care products from 26 popular cosmetics companies finds that many of these companies are doing a poor job informing the public on what ingredients are going into their products, hiding potentially toxic chemicals from consumers.
Blog Post
We need policies like Right to Repair to address the dangerous flood of electronics waste
Report | Maryland PIRG Foundation
U.S. PIRG Education Fund identified 14 common-sense towing protections that should be available to consumers in every state, and researched which states offer those safeguards. These protections range from who is responsible for damages caused by careless towing to whether you are guaranteed the option to pay by credit card.
RESOURCE
Coronavirus update
In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, we’ve taken steps for all of our staff to work remotely for safety reasons. But rest assured, we’ll keep advocating for you as we work for a healthier, safer world.
Learn more about how we can work together to address the COVID-19 pandemic.