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ALWAYS
BE INFORMED

The Community Relations Resource Center provides information on known issues or concerns facing our members from the community or external audiences. Within this area, members will find information on key issues, regulatory policy and potential solutions as well as case studies, reference articles and extended materials.

HIGHLIGHT ISSUE

Environmental Justice

The concept of “fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people” in development of environmental laws has risen to prominence in recent years and months, partly due to current social justice efforts, health disparities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and deeply-divided politics. This concept of environmental justice that was once rarely heard outside activist circles and select government agencies is now considered a core value for which public policy and business decisions on nearly any subject must factor into the equation.

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ISSUE GUIDANCE

“Any effort to address environmental equity [justice] issues effectively must include all segments of society: the affected communities, the public at large, industry, people in policy-making positions, and all levels and branches of government.” - Former EPA Administrator William Reilly

Environmental Justice & Advocacy

ReMA agrees with many of the aims of Environmental Justice (EJ) legislation, but there remain many unanswered questions about how new regulation will accomplish these ambitious goals. Through its advocacy, ReMA seeks to shape EJ legislation and highlight many of the goals of EJ already being practiced by its members.

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Environmental & Social Equity, Why it All Matters
Efforts to address environmental justice span more than 25 years, but until recently there was lack of consensus on long-term strategy. That all changed with recent social justice movements, when social inequities associated with overburdened communities framed environmental justice as an issue of equal protection.

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KEY ISSUES

Overburdened Communities: Public Health & Environmental Stressors

EJ legislation is typically focused on helping citizens facing health or other challenges from environmental pollution caused by industry located within their “overburdened communities,” which usually refers to a census target group of minority and/or low-income population.

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Involving the Community: Much more than a Public Hearing

Government is aggressively moving to expand public engagement requirements, establish EJ oversight and advisory committees, identify and map EJ communities, and various other efforts to ensuring citizens are fairly heard and agencies heed their concerns.

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Permitting 101: Neighborhood Concerns

Legislation with wide-reaching effects on applicants seeking new or renewed permits for specific categories of facilities sited in overburdened communities are in great jeopardy if they do not heed and address concerns with air, water, and even nuisance issues such as noise.

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Recycling Serves a Compelling Public Interest

Recyclers are stakeholders and members of our respective community with a vested interest, both economically and socially, in the community’s success. Is it essential that we demonstrate the economic and social value that each of our facilities individually brings to our community in a way that can change our neighbors’ perceptions.

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ISSUES BY TOPIC

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