Donate to CHANGE
Share Our Content
Follow Us on Twitter
Find Us on Facebook
Watch Us on YouTube
Safer Product Regulations Fall Short
California’s Green Chemistry Initiative has been touted as a bold and innovative move toward more effective and efficient regulation of industrial chemicals in consumer products. But the Initiative’s draft regulations would perpetuate the most serious flaws of the current system: too weak, too slow and stacked against the public in favor of industry.
In two letters, over 50 environmental, public health, consumer, social justice, and labor advocates from every region of California have written to Gov. Schwarzenegger and to Cal-EPA Secretary Linda Adams, saying the draft regulations issued last month “fall far short of meeting the worthy goals of the Initiative.”
Read more...Department of Toxics Wants Your Feedback
At long last, California's Department of Toxics Substances Control (DTSC) has released its draft regulations for implementing the first pieces of California's Green Chemistry Initiative and its quest for Safer Alternatives. Now, DTSC wants to hear from you. If you are in Sacramento on July 7 and 8, come raise your voice. If not, you can follow along with the webcast and submit comments via email. Final coments on the proposal are due July 15, 2010.
When:
Wednesday, July 7, 2010, 8:30 am - 12:00 pmThursday, July 8, 2010, 1:30 pm - 5:00 pm Read more...
Safer Products Preliminary Draft Regulations
Today, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released the Green Chemistry Draft Regulation for Safer Products. From now until July 15th is a critical window to share your feedback!
Let DSTC know how you envision a safer chemicals management system for California, and how it compares to this draft regulation. Read the full document here (pdf).
Two half-day public workshops for public comment are coming up:
Read more...You can comment on California's Green Chemistry Initiative
Are you ready for March Madness? No, we're not talking about college basketball. Over the next couple of weeks there are a mad number of opportunities to learn about and provide input to California's Green Chemistry Initiative.
California's Department of Toxics Substances Control, the agency responsible for implementing the bulk of the AB 1879, California's Safer Alternatives legislation, recently released a flowchart representing their vision for regulations to accelerate the quest for safer products.
Read more...Reducing chemical exposure could save California $700 million
State and Federal reform of toxics law would make Californians healthier, wealthier
OAKLAND–Cash-strapped California could save at least $700 million in health care costs if more stringent state and federal chemical policy helped reduce Californians’ exposure to toxic chemicals.
A new analysis released today,“The Health Case for Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act,” finds that the state has the opportunity to prevent rising rates of chronic disease and therefore reduce health care costs. Evidence is strong and growing that chemical exposures contribute significantly to the rise in many chronic diseases, according to this new report synthesizing peer-reviewed science and economic analyses.
Read more...DTSC Postpones More Green Chemistry Initiative Workshops
Upset that you missed the the last Green Chemistry Initiative Workshop. The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is holding two more public workshops soliciting information from the community. These new workshops will be held at the DTSC regional office in Berkeley and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
These new meetings have the same time 10:00am-3:00pm, it’s just the location that changes. Meetings like these are an important place for those interested in the Green Chemistry Initiative, to voice their opinion. See the CHANGE Platform for Help with Talking Points.
Email CHANGE with any additional questions and let us know you'll be there.
Read more...
As Economy Lags, Green Chemistry Industry Grows
While most industries are facing difficulties in this weak economy, the green chemistry industry and the green economy in general are relatively shielded from these worries. More and more companies are seeing the value of offering “eco-friendly” products, whether they may be cleaning products, personal care products, or something else entirely, according to a story in Scientifc American.
"Industry really sees the value of 'green chemistry,'" said Julie Haack, assistant head of the University of Oregon's chemistry department." If you want to recruit the best chemists, wouldn't it make sense to promote the opportunity to work in an environment where they can align their interest in the environment with their passion, which is chemistry?"
Read more...Informational Hearing on Green Chemistry
On February 24, 2009 the Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials Committee along with the Health Committee of the California State Assembly held an Informational Hearing on Green Chemistry. California’s first two Green Chemistry bills, AB 1879 and SB509, were signed by the governor in 2008, but that is only the first step. Listen to the hearing and keep up to date on the latest thinking on how to implement these bills and what else needs to happen to achieve truly green chemistry in California.
Read more...CHANGE at Department of Toxic Substances Control Workshops
On February 18th the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) held the first of 5 workshops designed to gather input on creating the regulation surrounding AB1879 and SB509. As a new member of the CHANGE coalition I attended this meeting and learned just how important it is for citizens concerned with the Green Chemistry Initiative to take part. There are four more upcoming meetings if you missed the first one.
Join us at the next workshop on Thursday, February 26 in Chatsworth, CA.
Read more...Upcoming Green Chemistry Initiative Workshops
Looking to get off the sideline and get more involved with the Green Chemistry Initiative? The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is holding public workshops soliciting information from the community. The workshops will be held at the DTSC regional offices.
All the meetings have the same time 10:00am-3:00pm, it’s just the location that changes. Meetings like these are an important place for those interested in the Green Chemistry Initiative, to voice their opinion. See the CHANGE Platform for Help with Talking Points.
Email CHANGE with any additional questions and let us know you'll be there.
Read more...