The Environmental Integrity Project reviewed
EPA records for 98 large U.S. slaughterhouses and found that three-quarters
of them discharged toxic waste directly into nearby streams and
rivers, violating pollution control permits.
EPA records for 98 large U.S. slaughterhouses and found that three-quarters
of them discharged toxic waste directly into nearby streams and
rivers, violating pollution control permits.
The EPA records show that 250,000 gallons per
day were dumped into waterways from January 2016 through June 2018 and that 74
of the 98 slaughterhouses had exceeded their permit limits for nitrogen, fecal
bacteria, and other pollutants.
day were dumped into waterways from January 2016 through June 2018 and that 74
of the 98 slaughterhouses had exceeded their permit limits for nitrogen, fecal
bacteria, and other pollutants.
Additionally, more than half the
slaughterhouses had five violations, and a third had at least 10 violations. Some
of these slaughterhouses are dumping as much nitrogen pollution as small
cities!
slaughterhouses had five violations, and a third had at least 10 violations. Some
of these slaughterhouses are dumping as much nitrogen pollution as small
cities!
Eric Schaeffer, executive director of the
Environmental Integrity Project, said in a statement:
Environmental Integrity Project, said in a statement:
State environmental
agencies need to start cracking down on and penalizing these flagrant
violations of the federal Clean Water Act. And EPA needs to step in and set
stronger national water pollution standards for meat processing plants.
The records also rank the worst polluters in
the U.S. by total nitrogen released and name the JBS pork processing plant in
Beardstown, Illinois, as the most polluting slaughterhouse in the U.S. last
year. The slaughterhouse released an average 1,849 pounds of nitrogen a day
into a nearby stream leading to the Illinois River. According to the EPA,
that’s equivalent to the nitrogen in raw sewage from a city of 79,000 people.
the U.S. by total nitrogen released and name the JBS pork processing plant in
Beardstown, Illinois, as the most polluting slaughterhouse in the U.S. last
year. The slaughterhouse released an average 1,849 pounds of nitrogen a day
into a nearby stream leading to the Illinois River. According to the EPA,
that’s equivalent to the nitrogen in raw sewage from a city of 79,000 people.
The meat industry has a record of egregious
water pollution. In fact, animal excrement and other agricultural runoff from
large-scale farms have polluted nearly one-third of rivers in the U.S.
water pollution. In fact, animal excrement and other agricultural runoff from
large-scale farms have polluted nearly one-third of rivers in the U.S.
In addition to destroying waterways, toxins
from factory farms contaminate our drinking water. A report from Environmental Working Group found that systems
supplying drinking water to millions of Americans contain dangerously high
levels of nitrates, which have been linked to increased risk of certain
cancers.
from factory farms contaminate our drinking water. A report from Environmental Working Group found that systems
supplying drinking water to millions of Americans contain dangerously high
levels of nitrates, which have been linked to increased risk of certain
cancers.
But factory farms don’t just devastate the
environment and compromise our health—they cause immense suffering for billions
of animals.
environment and compromise our health—they cause immense suffering for billions
of animals.
Pigs, cows, chickens, and other farmed animals face unthinkable horrors: cruel caged
confinement; brutal mutilations; and bloody, merciless deaths.
confinement; brutal mutilations; and bloody, merciless deaths.
Don’t believe us? Just watch this recent Mercy
For Animals undercover investigation at a JBS pig factory farm that exposed
workers kicking and punching animals in their faces, ripping out the testicles
of baby pigs without any pain relief, and violently smashing baby pigs
headfirst against the ground to kill them.
For Animals undercover investigation at a JBS pig factory farm that exposed
workers kicking and punching animals in their faces, ripping out the testicles
of baby pigs without any pain relief, and violently smashing baby pigs
headfirst against the ground to kill them.
The single best thing we can do to protect
animals, ourselves, and the planet from the cruel and destructive factory
farming industry is to eliminate our consumption of meat and other animal
products altogether.
animals, ourselves, and the planet from the cruel and destructive factory
farming industry is to eliminate our consumption of meat and other animal
products altogether.
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