the Waste Policy Center

Ag-Biotech and the Environment	What are the Real Environmental Problems
Biotechnology shows great promise in growing crops more effectively and with fewer environmental impacts. But Greenpeace and the London tabloids have spooked much of Europe on biotechnology. Now the activists are taking aim on the US. This speech presents the facts and suggests a future course on biotech agriculture.	How can we judge which environmental problems should get first attention? Our resources applied are often out of proportion to the environmental and health effects of specific problems. Is perfection attainable, or are the “parts per billion” proponents jeopardizing the overall effectiveness of environmental control activities? What are the real environmental problems in the US and the world?
Dealing with Controversial Projects	Recycling: How high is high?
Many of our industrial and governmental activities have become highly controversial. Dr. Porter has been on the front lines of such activities, ranging from Love Canal to “the garbage barge” to biotech crops. He discusses various approaches including effective planning, communications, and issues management techniques.	California, New York, and many other states have laws requiring recycling of 50% of their trash. Is this possible, or even desirable? The 25% national recycling goal set by Dr. Porter while at EPA has now been reached. Where do we go from here? An analysis of trash components and economic and environmental factors leads to some answers.
Site Cleanup Programs: What works and what doesn't?	Global Warming An objective view
Why is the national Superfund waste site cleanup program so maligned? For example, critics note that Superfund sites take over ten years to remediate. Are state cleanup programs any better? Do the huge federal facilities restoration programs need changing? What about emerging “brownfields” activities? These areas are discussed and recommendations made for much improved clean-up approaches.	Scientific views of global climate change range from “flooding of coastal cities” to “don’t know” to “no problem.” What does the science really say? Where are the primary knowledge gaps? How much time do we have to do something? These and related issues are discussed, and a reasonable near-term strategy is outlined.
The Politics of Environmental Policy
Political and economic power struggles and public relations opportunities often motivate environmental legislation and funding. Are politics compromising our environmental policies? What about devolution of environmental programs from federal to state and local governments? This speech looks at the political aspects of such issues for the year 2001 and beyond