Rutgers — New Brunswick - NJPIRG Students

NJPIRG Office: 104 Bayard St. Suite 102, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901

Current Campaigns:

No Toxics on Tap:

PFAS are forever chemicals that are used in everything from makeup to nonstick pans to our clothing. They were invented here in NJ to make things shinier and last longer, and because of that they stick around. These chemicals cause cancer and other serious health issues, and New Jersey has the second highest rate of PFAS contamination out of any state in the country.

We need to prioritize the health and wellbeing of our children and families over the convenience of our consumer products, so we’re working to educate city leaders and pass local resolutions sounding the alarm bell on this issue to set the stage for stronger protections.

For far too long, New Jerseyans have had to deal with pollution in our water and environment. We want to feel safe in knowing that the water coming out of our tap is clean and safe to drink.

Save the Bees:

Bees pollinate everything from flowers to coffee, but New Jersey beekeepers lost more than 30% of their colonies in the last year. Bees are dying at rapid rates due to climate change, habitat loss, and harmful pesticides. So, we’re working to convince our Mayors across New Jersey to become bee-friendly cities in support of a greener, healthier state.

We’ll run events to educate students and citizens in their respective cities; like pollinator trivia with free honey and flowers from our local farms, and speak with our local decision makers and city councils to win! In 2024, we were able to secure a sign-on from the city of Berkley Heights, committing them to ban harmful pesticides such as neonicotinoids and invest in pollinator friendly habitats. Thank you Mayor Devanney and Councilman Machado!

Waste is Out of Fashion:

The fast fashion business model is built on waste. Clothing companies like Forever 21 are constantly churning out the latest trends at incredibly cheap prices. Because of the rapid turnover of products, companies have to do something with their overstock–the unsold clothing that’s left behind. It’s the fashion industry’s “dirty open secret” that many companies resort to burning or throwing away this unused clothing. In fact, about 30% of all the clothing produced globally each year is never sold or worn and is likely headed straight to the closest landfill or incinerator. Globally, only 20% of all textiles are recycled or repurposed, sending the other 92 million tons of clothing to landfills each year- a major reason why clothing and textile waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the US. In the US, we generate enough textile waste to fill the Mall of America, the largest shopping mall in the country- every six days!

The solution to this issue is decreasing the ongoing environmental degradation from fast fashion business models by educating students and having them make pledges to commit to a “fast fashion free” semester as well as other efforts to reduce the purchasing of fast fashion outside of pre-owned clothing stores. Fast fashion companies will not change their profitable business practices unless we make a change in their consumer base so that they capitulate to the desires of the people that give them their profits.

End Hunger and Homelessness:
A recent survey found that 37% of Rutgers students face food insecurity. They often have to choose between basic necessities such as paying their rent, food, and academic materials. In 2024, the unsheltered population in New Jersey increased by 24%. We must address the immediate needs of vulnerable students, and communities by providing solutions and services. In the United States, no one should ever be hungry, particularly because there is enough food for all of us.

We can accomplish Zero Hunger by redirecting meal swipes, and food products to make sure the 40% of the food we currently waste, goes to the people who need it. We’ve also hosted successful free clothing markets, and are planning a pop up health clinics in our Rutgers cities. Our goal long term is to completely end hunger and homelessness on campus and to ensure that all New Jerseyians have access to basic necessities such as housing and food.

Affordable Textbooks:
Textbooks are expensive and over the past 4 decades, the price of textbooks have increased three times faster than inflation, and now 65% of students report that they skip purchasing materials due to cost. For students already struggling to afford tuition, the money they spend on textbooks often comes out-of-pocket. We are working on Rutgers campuses to change the automatic textbook billing policy, and promote the use of open access textbooks.

In February 2016, the President of Rutgers University agreed to fund a $12,000 grant program known as open and affordable textbooks (OATS) to encourage faculty to adopt open textbooks in their classes, or write their own textbook materials. In 2025, we are working alongside the library to educate the student body and faculty on the new and improved OATS program so that we have access to the materials we need to succeed. If you’re interested in this campaign, reach out to your chapter; and in the meantime, take action to sign our petition!

Save the Right Whale:

The sight of one of the North Atlantic right whale is incredible, but far too rare: today, these amazing whales are on a path towards extinction with only about 370 left alive. In 2024 alone, four right whales were killed as a result of boat strikes, and one died from getting tangled in fishing gear.

These gentle giants need our help if they are going to survive. We need boats to slow down and need fishermen to begin to transition to ropeless gear. We’re calling on Congress to reject any effort to weaken safeguards for the species, so that these whales can swim off our shores for generations to come.