Tell the EPA that toxic waste is never good for you

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants to know what you think about using hazardous waste to grow food, lawns, and gardens. Let them know that turning toxic waste into fertilizer is unacceptable. Tell the EPA fertilizer should be cleaner than dirt! TAKE ACTION NOW.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Proposed Fertilizer Rule Comments: Strengthen the Rule

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I write today to urge you to strengthen and expand the proposed fertilizer rule.

As you are well aware, major polluting industries are turning their waste into fertilizer, which is spread onto food-producing lands. This means that poisons--like lead, cadmium, arsenic, and dioxins--are ending up in fertilizer products used for farms and backyard gardens. This is a cheap way for industries to dispose of their toxic wastes on our food supply. I find it absolutely deplorable that these industries are reaping profits by endangering the health of our communities. This practice must be stopped!

Please strengthen the proposed fertilizer rule in the following ways:

1. Keep toxic waste out of our food supply by banning toxic waste in fertilizer, especially wastes containing dioxin.

2. As an interim step, adopt stringent standards for metals in fertilizers and close loopholes that give special treatment to mining waste and steel mill waste.

3. All fertilizers should be fully labeled with the actual levels of contaminants, and EPA should establish a comprehensive tracking system for all wastes going to fertilizer.

At the public hearing EPA held in Seattle, the public told EPA that the only way to safeguard our food and soils is to ban toxic waste in fertilizer. More of the public needs to be heard on this important topic. Accordingly, the EPA must hold more public hearings throughout the country.

In closing, I insist that you support standards for all fertilizers based on keeping our soils clean for future generations. Please, Administrator Whitman, make certain that fertilizers are cleaner than dirt.

I ask you to consider this an official comment to the review of the proposed fertilizer rule.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
December 07, 2001

Background Information

It's true! Toxic wastes from mining, steel mills, pulp mills, and other industries are made into fertilizer with virtually no regulations. These wastes contain dangerous levels of arsenic, lead, dioxin, and other poisons.

Right now, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering a proposal to regulate some toxic wastes in fertilizer. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants to know what you think about using hazardous waste to grow food, lawns, and gardens. While you may think this is a no-brainer and that the safest, most protective thing to do would be to ban all hazardous waste from being "recycled" into fertilizer, EPA needs to hear from you because the fertilizer industry is poised and ready to fight stringent regulation of their products. We have our work cut out for us!

The ultimate solution to this problem is a ban on the practice of disposing of hazardous waste by turning it into fertilizer. EPA has not proposed this solution, but has proposed taking initial steps to address the problem.

We need to let EPA know that we want an END to toxic waste in our fertilizer. Please take a moment to help stop this scam by writing a letter. The EPA needs to hear from you. Let them know that turning any toxic waste into fertilizer is unacceptable. Tell the EPA fertilizer should be cleaner than dirt!

FOR MORE INFO: Washington Toxics Coalition: http://www.watoxics.org/tf.htm State PIRG Report: http://www.pirg.org/toxics/reports/wastelands/index.html Seattle Times Article: http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis/web/vortex/display?slug=fert&date=19970703 Seattle Times Article: http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis/web/vortex/display?slug=regu&date=19970704