Houston’s plan for plastic recycling faces major hurdles and fire hazards

The ambitious Houston Recycling Collaboration, aimed at addressing plastic waste, is stalling as unprocessed plastic piles up at a site with multiple fire code violations and no state approval.

James Bruggers reports for Inside Climate News and CBS News.

In short:

Plastic waste from Houston's advanced recycling program has been piling up for over a year at a facility with multiple failed fire inspections.
The chemical recycling process promoted by the city and corporate partners has yet to be implemented, with major safety and environmental concerns mounting.
Industry partners are distancing themselves from the project, questioning its legality and safety.

Key quote:

“Five acres of paper and plastic piled up with little or no fire suppression: What could go wrong?”

— Richard Meier, private fire investigator

Why this matters:

As the plastic waste accumulates, so do concerns over environmental health and the effectiveness of so-called 'advanced' recycling methods. For a city that wants to set the standard, the reality is proving far more complicated—and messy—than anyone anticipated. Read more: What is chemical recycling?

insideclimatenews.org

Sick African American man coughing holding paper napkin near mouth suffering from respiratory ailment

Credit: Prostock-studio/BigStock Photo ID: 400400966

In coal country, black lung surges as federal protections stall

While President Trump is directing hundreds of millions of dollars to coal projects, miners in Appalachia are suffering from a resurgence of black lung disease. But industry pushback has indefinitely delayed federal rules that would reduce miners’ exposure to deadly silica dust.

Read the Full Article on

e360.yale.edu

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