Recycling Plant and Air Pollution
* Re: May 13 story about a proposal by America Hualong Investment and Development Co. Ltd. to build a recycling plant to handle the 8,000 tons of plastic waste generated by local strawberry growers every year. Ironically, The Times recently reported that “particle pollution” is a bigger killer of Ventura County residents than traffic accidents. Airborne “particle pollution” is the prevailing health complaint regarding such recycling facilities near populated areas.
So, do agriculture officials believe Ventura County residents want to increase their air pollution by the addition of a recycling plant, built for the sole purpose of grinding the tons of non-biodegradable plastic sheets that growers use to contain the toxic, and ozone-depleting chemical methyl bromide? Once this $4.5-million plant is built, will it be used as an excuse to extend the methyl bromide ban deadline again?
They’re just strawberries--”weeds” with seasonal fruit. If local growers didn’t use methyl bromide, they wouldn’t be involved in this ridiculous cycle of escalating environmental degradation.
DEBORAH BECHTEL
Camarillo
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
