5 May 2017

Press Release: Maryland Governor Hogan Signs ILSR-led Bipartisan Bills to Advance Composting

by | Date: 5 May 2017 | posted in: Composting, Press Release, waste - composting, Waste to Wealth | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

On Thursday, May 4th, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed two bills to advance composting in Maryland. One will bolster recovery of food waste and other organic materials by expanding infrastructure in the state. The other will reduce contamination at compost sites by preventing the false labeling of plastics as compostable or biodegradable. In signing the bills, which were among dozens of environmental bills passed by the Maryland legislature in 2017, Governor Hogan thanked the state’s elected officials for the real bipartisan effort in passing laws to “protect our soil, our air, and our water… and grow the investment in jobs in our state.”

HB171/SB99, the “Yard Waste and Food Residuals Diversion and Infrastructure Act,” requires the Maryland Department of the Environment to study and report on existing compost manufacturing infrastructure in Maryland, as well as laws in other states that divert food scraps and organics, and to then recommend how to improve infrastructure and funding opportunities to expand composting in the Maryland. The bill requires the Department to consult with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, along with a number of ILSR’s allies including the MD-DC Compost Council, the American Biogas Council, the Maryland Horse Council, the Chesapeake Foodshed Network, the Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, and the Chesapeake Sustainable Business Council.… Read More
25 Apr 2017

Press Release: Newly Introduced Maine Bill Would Limit Local Authority over Broadband Infrastructure Investment

by | Date: 25 Apr 2017 | posted in: MuniNetworks, Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Maine State Representative Nathan Wadsworth (R-Hiram) introduced a bill to revoke local authority over building Internet networks needed by local businesses and residents. The one-time Maine state ALEC chair introduced HP 1040 (also cross filed as LD 1516) to advantage the big cable and telephone monopolies.… Read More
21 Apr 2017

Press Release: Composting Builds Soil Health, Earth Day 2017 Resources Available

by | Date: 21 Apr 2017 | posted in: Composting, Press Release, waste - composting, Waste to Wealth | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

The first Earth Day in 1970 sparked not only the beginning of the environmental movement, but also the birth of the modern recycling movement. Today, recycling of paper, bottles, and cans is the norm, but food waste recovery remains paltry. Less than 5% of food thrown away is recovered. According to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR), almost half of typical garbage could be converted into compost (Source: ILSR’s Infographic).… Read More
19 Apr 2017

Press Release: Walmart’s Climate Pollution Grows as It Scales Back Renewable Power

by | Date: 19 Apr 2017 | posted in: Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

More than a decade after Walmart pledged to become an environmental leader, the company’s climate emissions continue to rise, according to data released today by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR). ILSR found that Walmart has scaled back its renewable power projects in the U.S. The amount of renewable energy the company derives from its clean energy projects and special purchases fell by 16% since 2013.… Read More
12 Apr 2017

Press Release: Tennessee Sends Broadband Accessibility Act of 2017 to Gov. Haslam’s Desk

by | Date: 12 Apr 2017 | posted in: MuniNetworks, Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

With this bill’s passage, the Tennessee General Assembly will likely not pass any other broadband legislation during this session. The Broadband Accessibility Act won’t improve Tennessee’s rating as 29th in Internet connectivity, but it will do a great job of lining AT&T’s pockets. As we’ve tracked throughout the session, there are a number of bills worth supporting that would actually increase connectivity and allow municipalities to take part in their own broadband future.… Read More
23 Mar 2017

J.C. Penney, Sears and Kmart Store Closings the Latest Casualty as Amazon Continues to Dominate Retail Sphere

by | Date: 23 Mar 2017 | posted in: Media Coverage, Press Release, Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Published in Nasdaq Global Newswire: “News outlets are taking notice of J.C. Penney, but locally-owned small businesses – the proverbial “canary in the coal mine” have been dealing with everything from big box stores to e-commerce. In the wake of 138 store closings announced by J.C. Penney plus another 150 Sears and Kmarts — most in small cities — national retailers are now feeling the pinch too. The Institute for Local Self Reliance (www.ILSR.org) and Local First Arizona (www.localfirstaz.com) are calling on the nation to shift a portion of their shopping from online retailers like Amazon to locally owned or national retailers in their communities.”… Read More
14 Feb 2017

Press Release: Missouri Senate Bill 186 Seeks to Limit Municipal Authority

by | Date: 14 Feb 2017 | posted in: MuniNetworks, Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Another year in Missouri and another bill from the big telephone companies to limit broadband competition in the state house. The bill introduced by Senator Ed Emery (R-Lamar), SB 186, seeks to limit the power of municipalities to provide competition to entrenched incumbent Internet Service Providers.… Read More
8 Feb 2017

Press Release: Brenda Platt Receives Major Composting Award for Grassroots Advocacy

by | Date: 8 Feb 2017 | posted in: Composting, Press Release, waste - composting, Waste to Wealth | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Brenda Platt, Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) co-director and director of ILSR’s Composting for Community initiative, was honored on Wednesday, January 25th, 2017, with the US Composting Council’s prestigious H. Clark Gregory Award, “for outstanding service to the composting industry through grassroots efforts.” The award came at the closing ceremony of the US Composting Council’s annual conference, this year held in Los Angeles.… Read More
2 Feb 2017

Press Release: Questions Grow About Amazon’s Impact on U.S. Economy

by | Date: 2 Feb 2017 | posted in: Press Release, Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Amazon’s earnings on Thursday are expected to show that the corporation continues to expand its revenue and market share. But new analysis suggests that Amazon’s expansion comes at a high cost to working people.

In a fact sheet released today, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) and Jobs With Justice find that Amazon is driving many of the most alarming trends affecting workers, including fewer reliable jobs, more temporary work, declining wages, and high-stress conditions.… Read More

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