EnviroPolitics Blog

Federal and California Proposals Target Microplastics

By Peter N. Coneski, Natalie E. Rainer, Elisabeth M. Lewis of K&L Gates LLP

On 17 July 2025, a bipartisan bill aimed at uncovering the potential human health implications of exposure to microplastics in the food and water supply was introduced into Congress.

Sponsored by Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Rick Scott (R-FL), and Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL), the aptly named Microplastics Safety Act would direct the US Food and Drug Administration to compile information about the impacts of microplastics exposure on human health and submit a report to Congress that outlines risks to children’s health, the endocrine system, and reproductive health along with detailing any associations between microplastics exposures and cancer and other chronic illnesses.

Although the FDA has recently stated that “current scientific evidence does not demonstrate that levels of microplastics and nanoplastics detected in food pose a risk to human health,” lawmakers are demanding more concrete answers about the impacts of microplastic exposures on health and recommendations for legislative and administration actions to address the same. However, the lack of standardized definitions, reference materials, sample collection and preparation procedures, and appropriate quality controls may present significant obstacles to satisfying the bill’s objectives and truly understanding any risks associated with microplastics exposures.

The Microplastics Safety Act follows closely on the heels of California’s Department of Toxic Substances’ proposal to add microplastics to the candidate chemicals list of California’s Safer Consumer Products Program. Priority products, or those containing at least one chemical from the candidate list, may face additional regulation in California to limit impacts and exposures.

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Cyclists: Get off busy roads and onto scenic regional rail trails

*The Delaware and Lehigh rail trail is one of several in Pennsylvania that are perfect for biking. Cindy Ross photo*

By Cindy Ross, Special to PennLive

Enjoy cycling but scared of vehicular traffic? Consider rail trails, a great alternative to biking along busy roads.

Rail trails are converted railroad corridors that have been converted to multi-purpose trails. Pennsylvania is blessed with over 200 of them, covering more than 2,200 miles. Some of the best in the entire country lie in the Commonwealth.

These trails are usually well graded, and you can often pick a gradual, downhill-sloping direction to travel. They are a perfect fit for parents pulling a trailer or for riders who cannot physically handle hills.

The easiest way to experience a rail trail (if one isn’t close to home) is to find a hotel or other lodging located right along the trail. Most trails have websites that list places to stay. However, some of the more established and longer trails do offer an associated shuttle service.

Here are some Pennsylvania rail trails worth checking out.

Read the full story here

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Tick, tick, tick: All of New Jersey under Lyme Disease warning

Lyme disease has been reported in every county in New Jersey, according to the state Department of Health, which is urging residents to take tick prevention seriously during the height of summer hiking and gardening season.

Adult Deer Tick Photo Credit: *Scott Bauer, Wikipedia*

By Cecilia Levine, Jackson Daily Voice

This year, ticks that can transmit Lyme Disease are appearing in growing numbers in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, too.

Tick Safety Tips From the NJ Department of Health:

Wear light-colored, loose-fitting long clothing
Avoid tall grass
Check yourself thoroughly after spending time outdoors
If You Find A Tick:
Grab it close to the head
Pull out slowly
Disinfect the bite

Tick, tick, tick: All of New Jersey under Lyme Disease warning Read More »

Bioplastics as compost? Debate pits farmers against manufacturers

Farmers and composting companies say allowing plastic to be considered compost will undermine the purpose of composting, which is to improve soil and crop health. Plastics manufacturers say loosening the rules will encourage more people to compost

By Susanne Rust, Staff Writer, LA Times, July 4, 2025

Greg Pryor began composting yard and food waste for San Francisco in 1996, and today he oversees nine industrial-sized composting sites in California and Oregon that turn discarded banana peels, coffee grounds, chicken bones, and more into a dark, nutrient-rich soil that farmers covet for their fields and crops.

His company, Recology, processes organic waste from cities and municipalities across the Bay Area, Central Valley, Northern California, Oregon, and Washington — part of a growing movement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by minimizing food waste in landfills.

But, said Pryor, if bioplastic and compostable food packaging manufacturers get their way, the whole system could collapse.

At issue is a 2021 California law, known as Assembly Bill 1201, which requires that products labeled “compostable” must actually break down into compost, not contaminate soil or crops with toxic chemicals, and be readily identifiable to both consumers and solid waste facilities.

The law also stipulates that products carrying a “compostable” label must meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program requirements, which only allow for plant and animal material in compost feedstock, and bar all synthetic substances and materials — plastics, bioplastics and most packaging materials — except for newspaper or other recycled paper without glossy or colored ink.

Close-up of text on plastic cup reading Made From Corn, referring to plant-derived bioplastics.
(Getty Images)¹

The USDA is reviewing those requirements at the request of a compostable plastics and packaging industry trade group. Its ruling, expected this fall, could open the door for materials such as bioplastic cups, coffee pods, and compostable plastic bags to be admitted into the organic compost waste stream.

Amid pressure from the industry, the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery said it will hold off on implementing its own rules on AB 1201 — originally set for Jan. 1, 2026 — until June 30, 2027, to incorporate the USDA guidelines, should there be a change.

Pryor is concerned that a USDA ruling to allow certain plastic to be considered compost will contaminate his product, make it unsaleable to farmers, and undermine the purpose of composting, which is to improve soil and crop health.

Read the full story here

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Alina Habba: Will she stay or will she go?

Alina Habba, attorney for former President Donald Trump, addresses members of the media during his civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court on Nov. 2, 2023 in New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

By Ricardo Kaulessar, NorthJersey.com

Alina Habba’s status as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey will be up to a Pennsylvania judge, who will look into the claim by a criminal defendant that she should be disqualified from her position, according to a federal filing.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann said in an Aug. 1 filing that he denied Julien Giraud Jr.’s motion to dismiss his drug and murder case but will delay the motion to dismiss while considering Giraud’s seeking to disqualify Habba, whose office is prosecuting his case.

“I conclude that the Girauds are entitled to injunctive relief precluding Ms. Habba from participating in their prosecution if they are correct that she was appointed in violation of statute or the Constitution,” Brann said in the filing.

Giraud and his son were scheduled to go on trial on Aug. 4 in the Middle District of Pennsylvania after Giraud’s attorney, Thomas Mirigliano, got it transferred from New Jersey.

Instead, in a judicial order that accompanied Brann’s filing, the trial will be postponed for a hearing and oral argument on any challenges to Habba’s appointment to be held Aug. 15 at the United States Courthouse and Federal Building in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Giraud challenged Habba’s appointment in a July 27 filing because he claimed that her appointment was unconstitutional. He cites a 2024 ruling by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who dismissed the federal case against President Donald Trump for allegedly taking and concealing classified documents because she found the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith was unconstitutional, as he was supposed to be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

Read the full story here

Alina Habba: Will she stay or will she go? Read More »

NYC Employers Unite to Power Green Workforce Growth

A group of New York City energy efficiency companies, backed by Con Edison, has formed an employer-led coalition to address the growing demand for skilled workers in the green economy and accelerate the development of a green workforce.

The NYC Energy Efficiency Workforce Coalition, created by the New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC) and The Green Launchpad, seeks to support the growth of a skilled workforce to handle the increasing demand for green jobs, particularly in clean energy and energy efficiency fields.

The coalition aims to bridge the gap between job seekers and available opportunities by connecting training providers and registered apprenticeship programs, according to Green Workforce Connect.

Faced with a shortage of trained workers, like skilled electricians and welders, the coalition plans to develop training programs to meet the current and future needs of the green economy, particularly in areas like building decarbonization and electrification.

“This Coalition is about creating the connective tissue between New York City’s clean energy goals and the people who will power them,” said Gregory J. Morris, CEO of the New York City Employment and Training Coalition. “By aligning contractors, workforce providers, and training institutions around a common vision, we’re building a durable ecosystem that equips New Yorkers, especially those from historically excluded communities, with the skills and support to access meaningful, long-term careers. It’s a strategy for inclusive economic development, one that drives decarbonization, strengthens local businesses, and builds wealth in the communities most impacted by climate and economic inequity.”

The Coalition will initially focus on three high-impact occupational tracks: energy auditing and analysis, project management, and technician roles, such as HVAC and installation technicians. These tracks were selected based on direct input from employers who identified them as both high-demand and foundational to decarbonization efforts.

Recognizing that job titles and responsibilities can vary dramatically between large implementation firms and smaller contractors, the Coalition’s working groups will develop customized guides that reflect the nuances of the NYC energy efficiency ecosystem. This includes mapping samples of non-linear career progression, such as technicians moving into program management, and clarifying transferable skills between roles.

Federal and California Proposals Target Microplastics

Cyclists: Get off busy roads and onto scenic regional rail trails

Tick, tick, tick: All of New Jersey under Lyme Disease warning

Bioplastics as compost? Debate pits farmers against manufacturers

Alina Habba: Will she stay or will she go?

NYC Employers Unite to Power Green Workforce Growth

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