Following a recent federal court ruling that manure must be
treated and regulated as solid waste, factory farmers can now be held liable
for pollution from their facilities.
treated and regulated as solid waste, factory farmers can now be held liable
for pollution from their facilities.
The court case involved a dairy facility in Washington found
to have polluted groundwater with manure. The extent of the contamination and
cleanup will be determined at an upcoming trial.
to have polluted groundwater with manure. The extent of the contamination and
cleanup will be determined at an upcoming trial.
According to Reuters,
“This is the first time the
federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which governs the disposal of
solid and hazardous waste, has been applied to animal waste from a farm.
“This is the first time the
federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which governs the disposal of
solid and hazardous waste, has been applied to animal waste from a farm.
If upheld, this ruling would set a powerful precedent.
“Industrial livestock operations produce hundreds of
millions of tons of manure annually. The district court ruling, if upheld,
could affect any large livestock facility that produces more manure than it can
responsibly manage, including poultry, beef and hog farms, the article
continues.
millions of tons of manure annually. The district court ruling, if upheld,
could affect any large livestock facility that produces more manure than it can
responsibly manage, including poultry, beef and hog farms, the article
continues.
Not surprisingly, factory farming practices are also to
blame for widespread contamination of our drinking water. In fact, animal
excrement and other agricultural runoff from large-scale farms have polluted
nearly one-third of rivers in the U.S.
blame for widespread contamination of our drinking water. In fact, animal
excrement and other agricultural runoff from large-scale farms have polluted
nearly one-third of rivers in the U.S.
Just last year, runoff from farms like these
near the Great Lakes left hundreds of thousands of Ohio residents without
safe drinking water.
near the Great Lakes left hundreds of thousands of Ohio residents without
safe drinking water.
Want to withdraw your support of factory farms and protect our precious natural
resources? Check out ChooseVeg.com
for meal ideas, recipes, and more.
