What does this headline mean, meeting environmental standards? Not only is the EPA just an office on paper, but Texas long before that had few to no regulations on this kind of thing. No standards to meet under the trump administration.
There may be a different issue, as reflected in our area's experience with Hurricane Matthew flooding in 2016.
Many Outer Bankers lost lower-level appliances such as refrigerators in that storm. They'd put these appliances out at the curb for municipal pickup. Fine. But before the public works employees came around to pick these appliances up--a delay of maybe 5-10 days--one or more metal salvagers would come pick up those appliances to sell the metal. Okay, sounds good in terms of keeping some stuff out of landfills.
But did the salvager(s) gave any care about properly controlling release of coolants like Freon into the atmosphere? Not likely.
Many Outer Bankers lost lower-level appliances such as refrigerators in that storm. They'd put these appliances out at the curb for municipal pickup. Fine. But before the public works employees came around to pick these appliances up--a delay of maybe 5-10 days--one or more metal salvagers would come pick up those appliances to sell the metal. Okay, sounds good in terms of keeping some stuff out of landfills.
But did the salvager(s) gave any care about properly controlling release of coolants like Freon into the atmosphere? Not likely.
4
It is unbelievable how much junk Americans collect, while being judgmental of poor people in other countries who are forced to use the junk Americans throw away because they have so little. The United States, and States like Texas, have single-handedly destroyed so much of our oceans, global atmosphere, and the work of good Americans and non Americans towards greater equality, justice, sharing, and mutually helpful and useful collaboration that is sustainable. Texans lack self awareness and a sense of proportion.
If you complain, criticize or even provide intelligent insightful feedback, and that too as a highly educated, extremely intelligent and insightful Brown woman from outside the State, they call you "snobbish, a foreigner, an outsider and try to mock you or hurt you or work against you". You cannot change these system as a Brown woman. All those Texans who fled to more nicer liberal and diverse States, or cities and towns outside Texas, need to come back and do some solid social and psychological reform.
As a PhD I have had pipsqueaks and nincompoops, with high school diploma or a third rate undergraduate degree, talking down to me in Texas and some parts of Midwest too. I am the nice gal who is friendly, kind & helpful. But I am tested everyday, and I need support, protection and promotion around here to make a difference.
If you complain, criticize or even provide intelligent insightful feedback, and that too as a highly educated, extremely intelligent and insightful Brown woman from outside the State, they call you "snobbish, a foreigner, an outsider and try to mock you or hurt you or work against you". You cannot change these system as a Brown woman. All those Texans who fled to more nicer liberal and diverse States, or cities and towns outside Texas, need to come back and do some solid social and psychological reform.
As a PhD I have had pipsqueaks and nincompoops, with high school diploma or a third rate undergraduate degree, talking down to me in Texas and some parts of Midwest too. I am the nice gal who is friendly, kind & helpful. But I am tested everyday, and I need support, protection and promotion around here to make a difference.
5
To All Those who have criticized Hurricane Harvey Victims for spray painting warnings signs telling people to stay away from their debris:
1. You don't know their reasons.
2. Until such time as you are hauling your life's possessions onto
the curb, kindly cut traumatized hurricane victims whose homes & life possessions have been destroyed some slack.
As a superstorm Sandy victim, I have hauled my possessions onto the street to join that of my neighbors.I would have found it distressing if poachers had
been "rifling through my possessions, for items that could potentially be sold."
Some of you have written that you believe that items could be cleaned and used by other victims. Please note that the NYT wrote "Poachers picked through the refuge, for items that could potentially be SOLD", not " Hurricane Harvey victims went through the refuse of others,, hoping to find items that they might be able to use. "
After Sandy, I could not figure out how to get my flooded car towed. The husband of a friend suggested that I donate it to charity. After the man from the charity managed to tow it out of my garage,I received a call from the Long Beach police, inquiring if I had given this man permission to tow my car. The police informed me that people had been towing cars to cash in on the scrap metal of Sandy Victims' cars.
1. You don't know their reasons.
2. Until such time as you are hauling your life's possessions onto
the curb, kindly cut traumatized hurricane victims whose homes & life possessions have been destroyed some slack.
As a superstorm Sandy victim, I have hauled my possessions onto the street to join that of my neighbors.I would have found it distressing if poachers had
been "rifling through my possessions, for items that could potentially be sold."
Some of you have written that you believe that items could be cleaned and used by other victims. Please note that the NYT wrote "Poachers picked through the refuge, for items that could potentially be SOLD", not " Hurricane Harvey victims went through the refuse of others,, hoping to find items that they might be able to use. "
After Sandy, I could not figure out how to get my flooded car towed. The husband of a friend suggested that I donate it to charity. After the man from the charity managed to tow it out of my garage,I received a call from the Long Beach police, inquiring if I had given this man permission to tow my car. The police informed me that people had been towing cars to cash in on the scrap metal of Sandy Victims' cars.
5
One more down side of our out of control population growth (2-3 million/yr) and development. A million tons to the land fill, buy a whole bunch of new stuff (great for the economy!) and continued development in places and in ways that will contribute to the next disaster. and best of all?, we get to do it all over again before too long. Does this strike anybody else as completely non-sustainable?
6
That was an excellent comment.
Recycle all the cars destroyed by the storm to build dikes along flood prone areas along the coast, and buttress the dikes with the discarded refuse from flooded buildings, sealing into the dikes to prevent pollution from the refuse.
2
How about dumping all of that waste on the front lawns of the governor's mansion, and all the republican state legislators. It will remind them of their anti-environmental/pro-corporate arrogance and hypocrisy. "We don't want the Feds to dictate policy to us", is their mantra, until of course a disaster strikes then they claim they don't have any state money to deal with their problems.
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Thanks for drawing attention to the unheralded workers who work for the "damn government" and clean up our messes.
Thank you all!
Thank you all!
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This statement brought to you by a pro corporate Clinton Democrat.
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As Houston begins a massive cleanup the governor’s suspension of environmental regulation guarantees Houston’s next disaster. Earth to Houston –Insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.
13
The flood waters of Harvey have carried away the most dangerous waste and deposited them in soil, ground water, and in the Gulf of Mexico. The toxic mix of chemicals in the Gulf increases with every coastal storm, which is why I will not knowingly eat seafood from the Gulf.
21
Can this cleanup be accomplished without the undocumented laborers that construction, especially in the south, have become so dependent on?
20
"Can this cleanup be accomplished without the undocumented laborers that construction, especially in the south, have become so dependent on ?"
Yes. It was done in New York after Sandy by homeowners, other residents,volunteers. and government employees.
Yes. It was done in New York after Sandy by homeowners, other residents,volunteers. and government employees.
1
It could if e-verify is used, there are penalties for employers and wages rise commensurately.
1
Greg Abbott is a waste of good, breathable air.
He is happy to do away with environmental protections to speed up clean-up? Yeah, so he can conveniently leave those suspensions in-place for the long-term. And WHO is impacted most by said protections? The most vulnerable in our community.
I wish I could place Abbott, Dan Patrick, and the useless Republican-held Texas Legislature at the curbside with the rest of the refuse.
He is happy to do away with environmental protections to speed up clean-up? Yeah, so he can conveniently leave those suspensions in-place for the long-term. And WHO is impacted most by said protections? The most vulnerable in our community.
I wish I could place Abbott, Dan Patrick, and the useless Republican-held Texas Legislature at the curbside with the rest of the refuse.
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The Times' sub-headline that summarizes the article says, "the task is complex, and meeting environmental standards will be difficult." This makes it sound like the standards (i.e. regulations) are the problem, when it is not the standards or regulations, but sustaining a livable environment under such conditions, that is the challenge. The standards give us a benchmark to gauge what needs to be done. Giving up the standards makes nothing easy, it only makes the future more dangerous.
29
Why are people trying to prevent others from taking some of their refuse? What they consider trash, someone else might be able to use. The cabinet in the photo, for example, doesn't look badly damaged at all. I'd much rather see it reused than thrown in a landfill.
24
Documentation for insurance?
Perhaps the homeowner is waiting for it to dry out while they clear out the house, then replace it in the house.
In any case, it does not belong to the looters.
Perhaps the homeowner is waiting for it to dry out while they clear out the house, then replace it in the house.
In any case, it does not belong to the looters.
3
If you're just drying it out, it's pretty silly to leave it on the curb where trash is supposed to go. As for insurance, just take a photo and you're done. As for "looters," or recyclers, I'd advise them to just knock on the door and ask if they could take an item.
1
Looters? Perhaps ? Who puts possessions they want to keep curbside to dry out ? Not wise perspective. I will be writing the citizens of Texas Huston to encourage that as much as possible be cleaned and reused? That is how wise people deal with disaster resources what some unwise people consider waste
1
Haul "millions of pounds of debris" away? On this small planet we have to share there is no "away".
32
Recycling 101 It is not waste management it is resource management
Solid wood tables and chairs can be cleaned and reused Those with out insurance will gladly reused cleaned quality furniture
"Poachers picked through the refuse" Cities would be wise to encourage recycling of good usable resources to reduce wasting resources. Some items can be cleaned and reused. No you dont have to spray paint them to prevent some one from recycling them . That is mean spirited after such destruction This is part of the mentality and culture of waste some people unwittingly bought into that is damaging our planets atmosphere. Yes climate change a crime against humanity GM Hummer nation could some be more dummer
Solid wood tables and chairs can be cleaned and reused Those with out insurance will gladly reused cleaned quality furniture
"Poachers picked through the refuse" Cities would be wise to encourage recycling of good usable resources to reduce wasting resources. Some items can be cleaned and reused. No you dont have to spray paint them to prevent some one from recycling them . That is mean spirited after such destruction This is part of the mentality and culture of waste some people unwittingly bought into that is damaging our planets atmosphere. Yes climate change a crime against humanity GM Hummer nation could some be more dummer
19
I am a Superstorm Sandy victim. I was told to discard items made out of wood.Wood is porous. Don't assume that something can be cleaned and re-used
without consulting with experts.
I would not have cared if someone had taken something that belonged to me.
nor would I have stopped anyone, but I would not want someone to become
sick from mold exposure, either.
All cars that have been flooded should be destroyed. There were cars that seemed fine that spontaneously combusted. months later. Flooded cars are moved to other states, where seller try to unload them. New York State passed a law requiring
that these cars be flattened , in order to protect unwitting buyers from ending up with flood damaged cars.
without consulting with experts.
I would not have cared if someone had taken something that belonged to me.
nor would I have stopped anyone, but I would not want someone to become
sick from mold exposure, either.
All cars that have been flooded should be destroyed. There were cars that seemed fine that spontaneously combusted. months later. Flooded cars are moved to other states, where seller try to unload them. New York State passed a law requiring
that these cars be flattened , in order to protect unwitting buyers from ending up with flood damaged cars.
6
This may be a stupid question, but why not let salvagers take stuff that's been tossed to the curb? As long as it's a material like wood, and they clean it, why can't it be reused?
42
The TX coast was an environmental nightmare waiting to happen and now the governor has suspended environmental regulations to help with the clean up. The effects of climate change to the state which has had a lot to do with climate damage is almost fitting, but there doesn't seem to have been any lessons learned yet in Austin. Now on to Florida...
20
Take all the debris and make the wall!!!
23
No way, Trump say Mexico is paying. Let's make him eat his words.
3
Put the debris in Trump towers.
1
Greg Abbott continues to show that he is completely useless as a leader. The day before Harvey arrived in Texas he unexpectedly advised all of coastal Texas including Houston to evacuate, to which our mayor, Sylvester Turner, said absolutely not. (More people died in the evacuation from Rita, a hurricane which didn't hit us, than in Harvey) Now Abbot suspends environmental regulations. Abbot appears only concerned about curtailing abortion rights, bathroom bills, and open carry laws. It appears that anything to do with the actual well being of the citizens of Texas is not in his purview.
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