See, this could have been a decent bill. The idea is good, but, the positioning is eye rollingly idiotic
Scrap Collector: Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Zero Waste Act billed as ‘key part’ of Green New Deal
Hot on the heels of last month’s sweeping national plastic pollution proposal, there’s a new federal waste bill in town.
I missed that one. Must not have gotten much press. It is a little bit too big government, a bit too over the top, but, the idea is presented in a lucid, rational manner, because, yes, we do have too much plastic pollution, and people do not recycle. What the two Democrats, Sen Tom Udall and Rep Alan Lowenthall did not do was go beyond basic language about protecting the environment. Omar didn’t see the sane way they positioned it
The Zero Waste Act, introduced by Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. as a “key part of the Green New Deal,” would provide up to $250 million in funding for “zero waste” initiatives — including organics recycling infrastructure, e-waste recycling or reuse, source reduction and market development.
“Our country generates over 250 million tons of trash each year. Right now, most of that trash does not get recycled or composted or reused. Instead, it ends up in landfills and incinerators, fueling our climate crisis and polluting the communities who live near these toxic sites,” Omar said during a press conference last week. “The only way to combat this crisis is to move to a ‘zero waste’ economy.”
The congresswoman framed waste as “an environmental justice issue,” noting that 80% of incinerators are located in low-income communities, communities of color and indigenous lands. In addition to presenting opportunities for economic growth and greenhouse gas reduction, waste diversion “protects communities from the health hazards associated with landfills and incinerators, such as toxic gases, pests, and air and water pollution.”
Zero waste is unobtainable at this time, but the idea of moving towards it is a good one. Consider “e-waste”, especially mobile phones. How many are just thrown in the garbage? Carriers and others should entice people to recycle them. So, good right? Right up to the “climate crisis”, “green new dea”, and environmental justice” moonbattery, which will cause people to dismiss this as a typical Modern Socialist bit of insanity to be ignored and fought against, because you know it will go way too far in its objectives. For instance, only those which a “living wage” are eligible for grants.
It’s a way to take a good idea and destroy it, because people like Omar are nuts.
