Stop coddling corporations and start doing something about plastic pollution!

As concerns mount over an April 11 plastics recycling plant fire that spewed toxins and caused mass evacuations in Richmond, Indiana, the Biden administration has failed to take action on regulations proposed in the wake of the toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that could prevent similar chemical infernos from occurring in the future. I find this deeply disappointing. By refusing to challenge the plastics industry the White House is overlooking the dangers of mass production and processing of plastics, beyond just how they contribute to water and land pollution. Only by preventing the creation of plastic waste at the front end— by reducing the types of production that contributed to the February train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio — can the type of fire that occurred at the Richmond warehouse be averted. This toxic fire should be the last plastics disaster communities have to suffer. It’s long past time for the federal government to crack down on this harmful underregulated industry. There’s much the Biden administration can do under existing law, including denying permits to polluters and making them pay for accidents like the Richmond fire. Do it, please! We must to stop coddling corporations and start dramatically reducing plastic production. Recycling isn’t the solution and shouldn’t be used to prop up this fossil fuel-based toxic industry. Thanks.