Media Center

New NRDC Study: Cutting Food Waste in Illinois Could Add 14,000 Jobs and Grow the Economy

February 25, 2026 Press ReleaseChicago

A new study, commissioned by NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), shows that Illinois can turn its trash into a major win for the state. By stopping food from rotting in landfills, Illinois can create thousands of jobs, grow the economy…

Nitrogen Pollution Reduction Act to Protect California's Drinking Water is Introduced in the State Assembly

February 23, 2026 Press ReleaseSacramento

Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan has introduced the Nitrogen Pollution Reduction Act (AB 2447), sponsored by the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Soil Health Team (NRDC). The bill requires the State Water Resources Control Board and California's regional water quality control boards to…

Colorado Can Join Leading States by Curbing Second “Silent Spring” Pesticide Pollution

February 11, 2026 Ed Board MemoColoradoDaniel Raichel

SB26-065 would reduce Coloradoans’ exposure to neonic pollution by adopting a model where neonic seed coatings could be used only when they’re the right solution for a verified pest problem.

Settlement Requires Minnesota Agriculture Agency to Account for Impacts of Toxic Neonic Seed Treatments

January 15, 2026 Press ReleaseMinnesota

A proposed settlement has been reached in a lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Agriculture over the agency’s inadequate regulation of toxic neonicotinoid pesticide-coated crop seeds.

Study Finds Federal Water Giveaways in the West Exacerbate Strained Water Systems and Cost Taxpayers

December 11, 2025 Press ReleaseLos Angeles

A new report out today, Free Water While It Lasts: An Analysis of Wholesale Water Pricing in the Lower Colorado River Basin States, examines new data that shows huge disparities in who pays what for water from the Colorado River…

Voluntary Is Not Enough: States Need to Intervene to Address Nitrogen Pollution

September 12, 2025 BackgrounderMinnesotaMaya Korb, J.P. Rose

It's critical that we grow food in a way that doesn’t poison drinking water, kill wildlife, and degrade ecosystems.

Lawsuit Filed Against Minnesota Department of Agriculture Over Failure to Regulate Toxic Neonic Pesticide Coatings on Crop Seeds 

August 4, 2025 Press ReleaseMinnesota

Neonic-treated seeds are leading to bee deaths and harmful water contamination.

Neonic Pesticides Contaminate Colorado Water

July 15, 2025 BackgrounderColoradoAllison Johnson

Pretreated seeds pollute groundwater and streams while threatening wildlife and bees.

Michigan’s Opportunity to Cash In on Waste

June 10, 2025 BackgrounderMichiganAndrea Collins

A proposed increase to Michigan’s waste disposal surcharge could fund recycling and waste prevention efforts—especially food waste reduction—throughout the state.

Environmental Groups Reach Settlement on Pesticide-Treated Seeds with California Agency

November 13, 2024 Press ReleaseCalifornia

A group of environmental organizations informed a California state court today that they had reached an agreement with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) to propose regulations addressing pesticide-treated seeds.

California Becomes First State to Ban “Sell By” Dates on Packaged Foods

September 30, 2024 Press ReleaseCalifornia

AB 660 requires the use of standardized food date-labeling terminology, reducing consumer confusion and the environmental impacts of food waste.

Confusing Food Date Labels Are (Almost) a Thing of the Past

September 10, 2024 Press ReleaseSacramento

In a major victory for consumers and the environment, the California State Legislature passed the nation’s first mandatory food date labeling reform bill. Assembly Bill 660, which standardizes confusing date labels that result in unnecessary food waste, is now on…

Federal Appeals Court Rules Use of Antibiotic as Citrus Pesticide Is Unlawful, Vacates EPA Approval

December 13, 2023 Press ReleaseSan Francisco

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday ruled in favor of farmworkers and public-interest groups’ call for reversal of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval of the medically important antibiotic streptomycin as a pesticide on citrus crops.

Governor Newsom Signs Bill to Protect Californians and Pollinators from Dangerous Neurotoxins

October 11, 2023 Press ReleaseSacramento

With the support of Governor Newsom and persistence from the state legislature, California has passed AB 363, which bans over the counter sales of lawn and garden neonicotinoid (neonic) pesticides by 2025, limiting their use to trained professionals. The bill…

NRDC, SWACO Announce Seven Ohio Recipients of Food Waste Reduction Grants

May 17, 2023 Press ReleaseColumbus

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) and SWACO (Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio) have partnered with the City of Columbus and Franklin County to announce the recipients of the Central Ohio Food Waste Reduction Capacity Grant, supporting community-driven initiatives that…

Groups File Lawsuit to Require California to Regulate Pesticide-Treated Seeds 

February 21, 2023 Press ReleaseCalifornia

Legal challenge calls on state Department of Pesticide Regulation to close loophole on unregulated sale, use of pesticides on seeds.

Padilla, Chu Join Union Workers in Los Angeles to Push for Federal Heat Stress Protections

August 30, 2022 Press ReleaseLos Angeles

As temperatures soar to triple digits in areas of Southern California, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.) were in Los Angeles today along with union representatives and workers to advocate for federal workplace heat stress protections.

California Bans PFAS in Paper-Based Food Packaging

October 5, 2021 Press ReleaseCalifornia

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law today banning the use of the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS in paper-based food packaging and to require disclosure of toxic substances in cookware.

California Leaders Approve Bill to Ban PFAS in Paper-Based Food Packaging

September 7, 2021 Press ReleaseCalifornia

California lawmakers have approved legislation to ban the use of the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS in paper-based food packaging and to require disclosure of toxic substances in cookware, sending the bill to Governor Gavin Newsom for his signature.

NRDC Expands Regional Food Matters Project to Reduce Food Waste in 5 Great Lakes Cities and Counties

January 19, 2021 Press ReleaseChicago, Cincinnati, Madison, Detroit, Ohio

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) announced the expansion of the Food Matters Project in the Great Lakes region with the goal of furthering larger-scale change related to food waste throughout the region. Building on projects previously launched in the Mid-Atlantic…