The Pesticide Matrix?

Question

Would you oppose having a hazardous waste landfill, waste treatment plant, deep-injection well, or incinerator in your community? Explain your reasoning. If you oppose these disposal facilities, how do you believe the hazardous waste generated in your community and your state should be managed?

Answer 1

Welcome to the wonderful world of NIMBY syndrome (Not in my back yard).

The other side of this coin is called, Environmental racism. (Though I personally think this is a misnomer), but should be called Environmental Economic Inequality.)

Environmental Racism is a belief based on the fact that NIMBY type projects end up in minority communities because they don't have the political power to block them. But in many cases these communities are so economically desperate they want these environmentally unhealthy industries to move in because they provided jobs.

The solution is two fold:

1) determine just how essential a facility is (is it really need just as a single nuclear storage facility) or is it just about extra profit, such as ANOTHER mid level toxic waste dump). (We need more high end but low and mid level we have surplus of).

2) government oversight: any such facility is bad for the environment but enforcement of regulations and new regulations can make them safer and cleaner. Only problem is State Local, and Federal Government have cut budget on enforcement, and even when enforced the fines are some time so low it cheaper to pay the fine than to provide a safe and clean work place.

Before a community allows such a project they must demand oversight and if they can't get state and Federal government to toughen the standard they can use contractual law. But placing a contract on permitting of the land use, local government can force the issue for their own communities safety and health.