The Battle Over Plastic - with Judith Enck

Legislators are hesitant to make action to regulate plastic, but the problem gets worse every day.

In the news this week, Patti and Doug talk about the surprising toxicity of homes of Los Angeles due to the recent fires, and the decades of delay for people in Chicago waiting to get rid of lead pipes. Then former EPA Regional Administrator and Beyond Plastics founder Judith Enck talks about the recent battle in New York State over legislation to reduce the amount of plastic in product packaging.  

Green Street - The Battle Over Plastic, with Judith Enck

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Links from the Interview

The website of Beyond Plastics: https://www.beyondplastics.org/

Links from the News

California Homes That Escaped Fire Didn't Escape Toxins: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/24/realestate/los-angeles-fires-toxic-homes.html

It's OK for People in Chicago to Wait 50 Years for Lead Pipe Replacement: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/26062025/chicago-lead-pipe-replacement-plan/

Pollinators in Peril - with Dr. Tara Cornelisse

Changes in our environment are having a devastating impact on the little creatures who make our natural world function.

This week on Green Street, Patti and Doug discuss the EPA’s plan to ease scheduled restrictions on certain types of asbestos, and the failure of the New York Assembly to pass any of the strong environmental protection bills which had broad public and legislative support. Then entomologist Dr. Tara Cornelisse, Lead Zoologist of NatureServe, joins the conversation to talk about the plight of our pollinator population, and what we need to do to protect this critical part of our interdependent natural world.

Pollinators in Peril - with Dr. Tara Cornelisse

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Links from the Interview

Website of NatureServe: https://www.natureserve.org/

More about Dr. Cornelisse: https://www.natureserve.org/whos-who/staff/87171

Tara's study on the plight of pollinators: https://www.natureserve.org/news-releases/over-one-fifth-native-north-american-pollinators-elevated-risk-extinction

Links from the News

EPA planning to ease scheduled restrictions on asbestos: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/us/epa-trump-asbestos-ban-delay.html

New York legislature fails to adopt any environmental bills: https://www.wxxinews.org/new-york-public-news-network/2025-06-18/ny-lawmakers-halt-brakes-on-plastic-packaging-and-other-environmental-bills

Dr. Tara Cornelisse - Lead Zoologist at NatureServe

Targeting Kids with Food Ads - with Dr. DeAnna Nara

Food marketers are zeroing in on our kids with ads for food that will make them sick.

This week on Green Street Patti and Doug talk about New York’s plastic packaging reduction bill, how fish in rivers and lakes in Michigan are not fit for consumption, and how the new generation of “quasi-ceramic” pans may contain toxic chemicals. Then Dr. DeAnna Nara of the Center for Science in the Public Interest talks about food marketing and how kids are being targeted from all directions with ads for unhealthy food. 

Targeting Kids With Food Ads - with Dr. DeAnna Nara

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Links from the Interview:

Dr. Nara's biography: https://www.cspinet.org/biography/deanna-nara

Center for Science in the Public Interest: https://www.cspinet.org/

Links from the News Learn about New York State's Plastic Packaging Reduction bill: https://www.beyondplastics.org/press-releases/ny-packaging-passes-senate-2025#

Don't East the Fish in Michigan: https://www.mlive.com/environment/2025/06/michigan-triples-waters-with-do-not-eat-warning-for-pfas-in-fish.html

What's On Your Stove? https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jun/09/ceramic-nontoxic-cookware

The Water Bottle Postcard