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Articles by Mathy Stanislaus
DEI False Backlash Exploited to Shield Chemical Industry’s Worst Actors
By Mathy Stanislaus Recent political attacks against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and environmental justice have extended far beyond those terms’ original meanings and stated goals. Instead, the Trump Administration and chemical industry lobbyists are using them as cover to shield the industry’s worst actors from accountability for their actions.
A New Baseline for “Fenceline” Community Health and Chemical Industry Accountability
Vice Provost, Executive Director, The Environmental Collaboratory, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA Communities living near chemical plants—on the “fenceline” in policy parlance—cannot continue to be exposed to cancer causing toxic emissions.
Four ways Pa. can prepare for climate change
As the world convenes in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for COP28, the annual United Nations climate meeting, most of the focus is on whether the globe is on target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to meet the goals of the Paris global climate accord, and rightfully so. Here in the United States, a disaster related to a weather, climate, or water hazard has occurred every day on average from 1970 to 2019, killing 115 people and causing $202 million in losses daily.
Local climate solutions are the way forward
It’s hot in Philly. Blisteringly hot. The city declared an emergency last week as temperatures inched toward 100. As airplane runways melt in England and the wildfires rage across Europe, it’s impossible not to connect the dots between extreme heat and climate change. At the national level, though, we seem to be making a blunder. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to restrict the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Congress, blocked by Sen.
3 ways policymakers can make EV batteries more sustainable
There is growing concern about the increased demand for commodities and metals used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The Global Battery Alliance brings together public-private stakeholders to enable battery scale up that contributes positively to climate goals. We've identified three areas which policymakers should address to establish a sustainable battery value chain.
Incinerators impact air quality and equality
Community Voices features opinion pieces from a wide variety of authors and perspectives. (Submission Guidelines) The Hennepin Energy Recovery Center is a facility located in Minneapolis that burns garbage to generate energy. MinnPost photo by Peter Callaghan 7 seconds ago When Minnesotans chose Joe Biden to be president, they chose a policy agenda that prioritizes racial justice and the environment — specifically, climate change.
How 5 pivots in 2 industries can lead the way to net-zero
Following big climate target announcements last year by major greenhouse gas-emitting countries, significant headway must be made in 2021. Transport and power sectors can decarbonise more quickly than others. Solutions such as the smart usage of electric vehicles and idle e-bus fleets as battery storage systems should be explored as a priority. Important announcements for climate action were made in 2020.
INSIGHT: What’s Next-Environmental Justice and Global Energy Opportunities
In the late Georgia Democratic Rep. John Lewis’ last call to action, he said: “Democracy is not a state.
The racist suffocation of environmental justice Original
“I can’t breathe” are the words changing a nation. Hopefully part of that change will be more breathable air and better respiratory health for the Black and brown communities who have been the victims of systemic racism that runs rampant in municipal waste management practices. These very practices are also contributing to higher COVID-19 mortality rates in those neighborhoods.
Recycle Products, Not Ideas
America Recycles Day—November 15—will be an occasion marred by unfortunate irony, as our nation’s waste management landscape has changed dramatically since China stopped accepting our recyclable materials last year. What we are in dire need of, now, is a change in both messaging and mindset around recycling and waste management.
INSIGHT: Donât Incinerate Waste; Get Circular, Optimize Plastics
Our national recycling crisis has taken a dystopian turn. Since China stopped accepting our recyclable goods last year, American municipalities have been challenged with a complicated choice about how to manage a back-up of plastics and other recyclable materials: revive and expand the old-fashioned practice of solid waste incineration (a short-term fix with long-term negative consequence) or invest in a new, more sustainable future.
Cities may save some species from extinction, but they don’t save species’ ecological functions
This article was originally published by Mongabay and is republished with permission. Some species are not only able to adapt to life in urban areas but actually thrive and grow more abundant than they might have in their natural surroundings.
Five ways to unlock the value of the circular economy
Governments and businesses are sitting on a massive opportunity to lessen their climate impact and drive up revenue and consumer satisfaction by moving toward a circular economy.
5 Ways to Unlock the Value of the Circular Economy
Governments and businesses are sitting on a massive opportunity to lessen their climate impact and drive up revenue and consumer satisfaction by moving toward a circular economy.
5 Ways to Unlock the Value of the Circular Economy
Governments and businesses are sitting on a massive opportunity to lessen their climate impact and drive up revenue and consumer satisfaction by moving toward a circular economy.
Banning plastic bags and straws is a drop in the ocean. Here's what else we need to do
It seems to be the summer of plastic bans. Starbucks, Hyatt, the city of Seattle and others have all committed to phase out plastic straws. Stafford Township in New Jersey passed a plastic bag ban just last month, joining dozens of other American cities and states imposing taxes or bans on single-use plastics. But is this a good thing? Not if that’s all we do. The Case for Banning Plastic Use of single-use plastics (think wrappers, straws and bags) has skyrocketed over the last few decades.
Minimizing the downsides of the energy transition
This article was originally published by Ensia and is republished with permission. Transitions by definition are disruptive. Whether it’s switching jobs, electing new leaders, passing laws or adopting innovative technologies, some people gain while others lose.
Banning Straws and Bags Won’t Solve our Plastic Problem
More than 8 million tons of plastic waste wind up in the ocean every year. Photo by Trocaire/Flickr It seems to be the summer of plastic bans. Starbucks, Hyatt, the city of Seattle and others have all committed to phase out plastic straws. Stafford Township in New Jersey passed a plastic bag ban just last month, joining dozens of other American cities and states imposing taxes or bans on single-use plastics. But is this a good thing? Not if that’s all we do.
How we can effectively shift to a global circular economy
If you need to skip the straw at lunch today, consider this: Scientists found that even Arctic sea ice — far removed from most major metropolitan areas — is no longer plastic-free. According to Jeremy Wilkinson of the British Antarctic Survey, "this suggests that microplastics are now ubiquitous within the surface waters of the world's ocean. Nowhere is immune."Humanity has a waste problem.
5 reasons the world wastes so much stuff
Globally, we generate about 1.3 billion tons of trash per year, far more than we can properly process or recycle. The shift to a circular, rather than linear, method of consumption is now. If you need a motivation to skip the straw at lunch today, consider this: scientists found that even Arctic sea ice — far removed from most major metropolitan areas - is no longer plastic-free.
Why do we waste so much stuff?
If you need motivation to skip the straw at lunch today, consider this: scientists found that even Arctic sea ice—far removed from most major metropolitan areas—is no longer plastic-free. According to Dr. Jeremy Wilkinson of the British Antarctic Survey, "this suggests that microplastics are now ubiquitous within the surface waters of the world's ocean. Nowhere is immune." Humanity has a waste problem.
5 Reasons the World Wastes So Much Stuff (and Why It's Not Just the Consumer's Fault)
By Mathy StanislausIf you need motivation to skip the straw at lunch today, consider this: Scientists found that even Arctic sea ice—far removed from most major metropolitan areas—is no longer plastic-free. According to Dr. Jeremy Wilkinson of the British Antarctic Survey, "this suggests that microplastics are now ubiquitous within the surface waters of the world's ocean. Nowhere is immune."Humanity has a waste problem.
Barriers to a Circular Economy: 5 Reasons the World Wastes So Much Stuff (and Why It's Not Just the Consumer's Fault)
If you need motivation to skip the straw at lunch today, consider this: Scientists found that even Arctic sea ice—far removed from most major metropolitan areas—is no longer plastic-free. According to Dr. Jeremy Wilkinson of the British Antarctic Survey, "this suggests that microplastics are now ubiquitous within the surface waters of the world's ocean. Nowhere is immune." Humanity has a waste problem.
Planning Catalyst Cleanups to Spur Broad Community Revitalization
At EPA, we recognize that successful, sustained community revitalization occurs when neighborhood stakeholders, local governments and the private sector work together on a shared plan for community-wide improvement. That is why we created the Area-Wide Planning (AWP) grants program for brownfield sites; a legacy I’m particularly proud of.
Modernizing the Risk Management Plan Rule
Our country’s chemical industry provides necessary goods we use in our everyday lives, provides employment in many communities throughout the country, and provides key ingredients for many diverse industries nationwide.
Electronics: The Next Frontier in Sustainability
Last year was quite a year for the Office of Land and Emergency Management. October marked the 40th anniversary of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and we have been taking stock of our success managing our materials and waste, and discussing where we need to head in the future. In addition, we have worked continuously to advance Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) and life cycle thinking.
EPA Proposes Financial Requirements for Clean-Up at Hardrock Mining Facilities
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, better known as the Superfund law) protects human health and the environment by managing the cleanup of the nation’s most contaminated lands and by responding to locally and nationally significant environmental emergencies. To further CERCLA’s mission, we are proposing a rule that will reduce taxpayer costs at hardrock-mining and mineral-processing facilities.
Superfund Acts to Protect Americans from Harmful Vapors
Under the Superfund program, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protects people who live close to Superfund sites by addressing any threats those sites may pose to soil, air, groundwater and surface water. Approximately 53 million people in the U.S. live within three miles of a Superfund site. So when EPA conducts Superfund investigations and finds significant threats to public health or the environment, we clean them up, control them, or both.
Recognizing Leaders in Food Waste Reduction this Holiday Season
In just a few days, households across the nation will celebrate Thanksgiving, a cherished tradition of spending time with family and friends and sharing a meal. Many households, after enjoying abundant Thanksgiving meals, throw wholesome food into landfills. Did you know that food is the largest part of our everyday trash – more than paper, plastic, and glass? Reducing food waste results in significant environmental, social and financial benefits to our communities.
The Economic Power of Recycling: Sustainable Materials Management
On America Recycles Day, we’re taking a look back over the last 40 years since the passage of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and how we’ve worked to protect the health of our country’s communities through resource conservation. Here at EPA, recycling is a key element of Sustainable Materials Management (SMM), a systemic approach to using and reusing materials more productively over their entire life cycles.
Keeping International Communities Safe - One Hazardous Waste Shipment at a Time
Here at EPA we are not only focused on responsibly and safely managing our country’s waste, but it’s also our responsibility to ensure that our country’s waste isn’t a danger to human health or the environment of communities abroad. That is why I am excited to announce today’s publication of the Hazardous Waste Export-Import Revisions Final Rule.
Celebrating 40 Years of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Forty years ago, our nation looked much different than it does today. There were few protections in place to safeguard people and our environment from the mismanagement of solid and hazardous waste…and it showed. On October 21, 1976, President Ford signed the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) into law.
Waste and Materials Tracking Now Available in EPA’s ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®
While you might not think about buildings as polluters, the places where we work, shop and learn offer a significant opportunity to save energy, save water, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce waste. The good news is that for many buildings, measuring and tracking energy and water use has become standard operating procedure. Waste and materials are another story, however. Materials can include items such as furniture, construction materials, and equipment.
Retail Strategy: A New Focus on Hazardous Waste Regulations
America’s hazardous waste management program ensures the safe management of hazardous waste from the “cradle to the grave”. Many of these regulations were developed more than three decades ago, so it is important we ensure they continue to effectively protect human health and environment into the future.
Superfund Investigates Land Pollution from the Past…and Present
On September 7, 2016, we took steps to respond to states, tribes and citizens who asked for our help addressing contaminated sites. In response, we are adding 10 hazardous waste sites to the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL is our list of more than 1,300 of the most contaminated sites in the country that we are addressing under the Superfund program. Superfund is one of the most important federal programs to improve the health, environment and economy of America’s communities.
A Reflection on the Gold King Mine Incident
Today, we are releasing a new publication, One Year After the Gold King Mine Incident: A Retrospective of EPA’s Efforts to Restore and Protect Communities. The report details our efforts — including the projects and groups we have funded — to protect the areas around the Gold King Mine (GKM) and prevent another spill like this from happening at other EPA work sites at mines across the country.
A Call to Action to Reduce Food Loss and Waste
Last November I co-hosted the Food Recovery Summit, bringing businesses, non-profits, governments, and community groups together in Charleston, South Carolina to reduce the problem of wasted food. There are successful efforts underway across the country that tackle wasted food – saving money, feeding the hungry, and acting on climate change. EPA and the US Department of Agriculture announced an ambitious national goal of reducing food loss and waste by 50 percent by 2030.
E-Manifest: Sustaining the e-Manifest National System through User Fees
Recently, I blogged about the selection of members for our e-Manifest Advisory Board, an exciting step in the creation of an electronic system for tracking hazardous waste shipments from “cradle-to-grave.” This system, known as e-Manifest, will improve access to timely hazardous waste shipment data and will reduce burdens associated with the current paper manifest system. How are we funding this system?
Developing Green Job Opportunities in Brownfields-Impacted Communities
The first seeds of brownfields job training—and of the brownfields program itself—emerged in the early 1990s, reflecting our growing concern for environmental equity (now known as environmental justice). Back then, we provided funds for the assessment and cleanup of abandoned and potentially contaminated sites through brownfields grants. The funds brought job opportunities to those communities where the assessments and cleanups were taking place, but there was one problem.
Superfund is Making a Visible Difference
Thirty-five years ago, the Superfund program was created to clean up sites where hazardous releases have occurred or might occur. At some of these sites, there are potential long-term human health effects from contamination, such as cancers, birth defects, or respiratory issues. Contaminated sites can also cause long-term harm to fish, wildlife, and other natural resources if not addressed and managed. At other sites, the risk might be more immediate in the form of fires and explosions.
Permission to Build? Why Well-Maintained Hazardous Waste Permits are Good for the Environment, Good for our Communities, and Good for Business
We all know this principle: that which is built, also must be maintained. This applies to the houses and buildings we live in, the bridges and roads we travel, and the infrastructure that provides us reliable electricity and clean water. And it also applies to the facilities that treat, store, and dispose of hazardous waste – including the operating conditions and requirements at manufacturing facilities that also manage hazardous waste (treatment, storage, or disposal facilities).
E-Manifest: Tapping into America’s Expertise to Build a National System
Last year, I wrote about the progress we’re making on creating an electronic system for tracking hazardous waste shipments. It’s the system that will modernize the nation’s cradle to grave hazardous waste tracking process while saving valuable time, resources, and dollars for industry and states.
Preventing and Better Preparing for Emergencies at Chemical Plants is Job One
The chemical industry provides critical products we use every day, creates jobs, and is a staple of the U.S. economy. While numerous chemical plants operate safely, in the past 10 years nearly 60 people died, some 17,000 people were injured or sought medical treatment, and almost 500,000 people were evacuated or sheltered-in-place as a result of accidental releases at chemical plants. During that time, more than 1,500 incidents were reported causing over $2 billion in property damages.
In My Opinion: EPA's food waste mission
December 21, 2015 By Mathy Stanislaus, associate administrator for the Office of Land and Emergency Management at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency As you may have heard, EPA is helping lead the charge to meet America’s new wasted food goal: a 50 percent reduction in food loss and waste by 2030. This goal is recent, but EPA’s commitment to sustainable management of food is well-established, and we are hoping that by expanding and building on our current programs, we can make real progress.
Cleanup and Redevelopment of Superfund Sites Benefits Communities
Thirty-five years ago, on December 11, 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed the Comprehensive Environmental, Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, the law that established the Superfund program. This anniversary has led me to reflect on the tremendous progress Superfund has made in cleaning up contaminated land, surface water and groundwater across the country.
A New Name, Same Important Mission
By Mathy Stanislaus, Assistant Administrator, Office of Land and Emergency Response Over the last year, my staff and I have been working diligently to identify a new name for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER). We wanted a name that reflects the breadth and depth of our programmatic footprint in protecting human health and the environment. We asked for input from our personnel and key regional staff.
The 2015 Food Recovery Summit: EPA’s Role in Reducing Wasted Food
In September, Acting Deputy Administrator Stan Meiburg of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Secretary Tom Vilsack of the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a national goal to cut America’s food loss and waste in half by the year 2030. Following the announcement, EPA focused on creating opportunities for key stakeholders to tackle America’s wasted food problem.
Working with Local Governments and Communities to Fight Food Waste
After returning from our first Food Recovery Summit in Charleston, South Carolina where we announced the 2015 Food Recovery Challenge winners, I found myself thinking about food, and not just the wonderful Charleston restaurants. In 2013, an estimated 35 million tons of food went to landfills and incinerators, accounting for 21% of the American waste stream. EPA and USDA announced an ambitious 2030 U.S. domestic goal to cut in half food loss and waste by 2030.
Recycling Saves Resources and Creates Green Jobs
Recycling is an important and significant aspect of a material’s lifecycle. It helps reduce the use of raw materials in the manufacturing sector and conserves resources like timber, water and minerals. Over the next 15 years, global demand for materials is predicted to rise more than 35 percent. This makes the efficient use of natural resources vital for economic development.
EPA Continues Support for Local Preparedness/Prevention Activities
In 2014, after several catastrophic chemical facility incidents, I represented EPA as a Tri-Chair for the creation of The Report for the President, Actions to Improve Chemical Facility Safety and Security – A Shared Commitment, to recognize the central role of local community preparedness to advance safety of chemical plants.
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