TAKE ACTION NOW - HB41
RIGHT TO REPAIR
House Bill 41: The Delaware Digital Right to Repair Act seeks to address the issue of being able to extend the life of consumer electronics by making it easier to access parts and repair instructions, previously often withheld by manufacturers, such as for cell phones. It is a bi-partisan bill under Prime Sponsor Rep. Ruth Briggs King. Once enacted, the Right to Repair bill will serve to support small businesses in Delaware and provide local skilled jobs, while reducing the amount of electronics that prematurely become landfill fodder, and reducing carbon emissions by increasing the longevity of consumer products.
TAKE ACTION NOW - SB51
BAN EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE IN DELAWARE
Expanded Polystyrene is some particularly nasty stuff. It's a foam plastic made from toxic petrochemicals including benzene. It is not biodegradable nor compostable. Instead, it crumbles or photodegrades, breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic microplastic pieces, making it impossible to fully clean up once it is thrown away and escapes into our environment, and allowing it to easily migrate into our food chain and water supplies.
Polystyrene Foam is not accepted in curbside recycling. It's already banned in several other states including neighboring Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and D.C. because it's so harmful to our health and our environment.
Expanded Polystyrene foam is a human health & environmental justice issue. During the manufacturing process, workers exposed to styrene monomers have an increased risk of lymphoma, leukemia, and other forms of cancer. The industry ranks as the 5th largest creator of toxic wastes in the USA and these risks are especially prevalent in fenceline communities.
Expanded Polystyrene foam contributes to climate change. Single use plastic is derived from fossil fuel extraction and refining processes of oil and natural gas.
Polystyrene foam also makes its way into our storm drains and our waterways. It pollutes our environment, harms animals, and increases cleanup costs. Once in the water it will absorb 10 times more pesticides, fertilizers and chemicals than other kinds of plastic, increasing toxin exposure to fish and other aquatic animals and on up the food chain.
Safer and more sustainable alternatives are readily available. It’s time to get polystyrene foam out of Delaware once and for all.
CLICK BELOW to write to your Delaware State legislators today to ask them to protect us from expanded polystyrene by supporting Senate Bill 51.
YOUR ADVOCACY MAKES A DIFFERENCE!
On the strengthened plastic bag law that went into effect on July 1, 2022:
“The Sanitation guys are thrilled! They are seeing much less recycling contamination. And street cleaning guys have noticed a big difference in the litter control. It has definitely made an impact. Keep up the good work!! The plastic bag legislation has been the most impactful thing ever in the City as far as trash goes, just the best thing ever. I am a huge fan of what Plastic Free Delaware is achieving.”
- Kelly Williams,
City of Wilmington, Director of Public Works
On the balloon release bill which also went into effect on July 1, 2022, PFD's partner, the Delaware Surfrider Chapter reports early data already suggests a positive trend:
- In 2020, 1,088 balloons were collected during 56 cleanups (prior to passage of SB 24 in 2021)
- In 2021, 860 balloons were picked up during 81 cleanups
- And, in 2022, 392 were counted during 70 cleanups (SB24 only went into effect 7/1/22, but these numbers highlight its effect in building public awareness of the issue)
THEY REPRESENT YOU
CONTACT INFO FOR YOUR DELAWARE STATE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES
FOR ACTION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES:
U.S. Senators
Senator Christopher Coons
Contact Via Web Form
Washington Office:
383 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5042
Fax: (202) 228-3075
Main District Office:
1105 N. Market St., Ste. 2000
Wilmington, DE 19801-1233
Phone: (302) 573-6345
Fax: (302) 573-6351
Senator Tom Carper
Contact Via Web Form
Washington Office:
513 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-0801
Phone: (202) 224-2441
Fax: (202) 228-2190
Main District Office:
2215 Federal Bldg., 300 S. New St.
Dover, DE 19904
Phone: (302) 674-3308
Fax: (302) 674-5464
U.S. Congressional Representative
Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester
Contact Via Web Form
Washington Office:
1123 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4165
Fax: (202) 225-0011
Main District Office:
1105 North Walnut Street, Suite 400
Wilmington, DE 19801
302-830-2330
