News Releases

If Newsom Blesses CPUC Plan To Charge Consumers Solar Tax, He Will Kill Rooftop Solar Across The Country, Consumer Watchdog Says

January 26, 2022  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA — Consumer Watchdog said today that Governor Newsom firmly reject most of a proposed net metering decision before the California Public Utilities...

Fraud In Bottle Deposit System Out Of Control; Costing Consumers Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars Annually, Consumer Watchdog Reveals

January 6, 2022  ·  Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA—Recycling scams are costing California consumers potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in nickel and dime deposits stolen through fraudulent bottle and can...

Not A Single Retail Store In San Francisco Has To Take Your Recycling Back; Watchdog Calls On Newsom To Engage on Bottle Deposit Bill

December 19, 2021  ·  Jamie Court

San Francisco, CA — You can leave your heart in San Francisco, but now you can’t find a single grocery store or bodega in the...

Failure of Bottle Deposit Program Costing Californians 750,000 Tons of Greenhouse Gases, The Equivalent of Putting More Than 160,000 New Cars On The Road

December 6, 2021  ·  Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA — Inattention to California’s bottle deposit program is dramatically growing the state’s carbon footprint, according to analysis by the Container Recycling Institute...

Consumer Watchdog Praises Governor Oil Setback Rule, Says More Needs To Be Done To Phase Out Oil Drilling In California

October 21, 2021  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA — Consumer Watchdog today called Governor Newsom’s draft rule creating a first-of-its-kind 3200-foot setback between oil wells and communities a “historic moment...

CA Dangerously Close To Approving 10,000 Oil Drilling Permits since Newsom Assumed Office; Groups Demand Gov. Deliver On Putting Oil Drilling Into Rear View Mirror

October 6, 2021  ·  Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA — Governor Newsom’s oil regulators have approved 9,728 oil drilling permits since he assumed office in 2019, according to a new analysis...

Governor Newsom Must End Oil Permits In State Waters And Order 2,500-Foot Barrier Between Communities And Oil Drilling, Consumer Watchdog And FracTracker Alliance Say

October 4, 2021  ·  Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA — While an oil spill in federal waters damages Southern California beaches, wildlife and habitat, oil regulators under Gov. Gavin Newsom have...

California Assembly Stops Bottle Deposit Bill Fix For 2021 As Redemption Rate Drops to 56%

September 8, 2021  ·  Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA—The California Assembly refused to act on a budget proposal put forth by the Senate to shore up Californian’s collapsing bottle deposit system...

CA Permit Approvals For New Well Drills Are Down 64% For The First Six Months; Consumer Watchdog Urges Governor To Seize Golden Opportunity To Move From Fossil Fuels

July 26, 2021  ·  Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA — Permit approvals to drill or rework new oil wells fell by 64% in the first six months of 2021 over the...

Consumer Watchdog Applauds Oil Regulator’s Denial Of Aera Fracking Permits

July 9, 2021  ·  Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA—The denial by the California Geologic Energy Management Division of 21 Aera Energy fracking permits is a win for public health and the...

Assembly Member Richard Bloom’s Legislation Allows More Grocery Stores To Refuse to Take Back Empty Bottles and Cans During Recycling Crisis; Senior Speaks Out In New Video

June 29, 2021  ·  Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA — Legislation backed by the waste hauling industry and authored by Santa Monica Assembly Member Richard Bloom would make fewer grocery and...

Bill Assigning Responsibility For Recycling Bottles & Cans To Beverage Industry Passes CA Senate In Major Consumer Victory

June 3, 2021  ·  Jamie Court

Sacramento, CA — SB 38 (D-Wieckowski), a bill to overhaul the state’s bottle deposit program by forcing the beverage industry to create an accessible recycling...