Aging containers filled with toxic waste await disposal. (Photo: Anna Vaczi, via Shutterstock) OPINION: Just as the coronavirus ruthlessly attacks vulnerable points in the human body, the pandemic is also exposing weaknesses in a range of society’s organizations and arrangements. Government is no exception.
A photo illustration of a lead-acid battery. (Image: Marynchenko Oleksandr, via Shutterstock)The government nearly always takes the straightforward approach to problematic chemical substances by simply restricting or banning their use. This approach fails to control the replacement(s), so we all too often end up with regrettable substitutions – the use of other chemical substances that perform no better than the substances they replaced in terms of environmental and human health toxicity.
An illustration of the California grizzly bear and manufacturing machinery. (Image: GrAl, via Shutterstock) OPINION: California takes great pride in being at the forefront of innovation. The state’s bold regulatory initiatives set standards for the rest of the country and our manufacturers research and develop world-leading solutions to particular problems almost daily. There is no doubt that California is the world’s leading edge of innovation, product safety and modernization.