PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 8, 2021
We now know without a doubt that there are big costs associated with waste disposal and recycling, and that there are dire consequences if the job is not done properly. We also know that there is generally not enough value in the outputs of recycling to cover disposal and recycling costs. L.D. 1541 is not perfect, but it is a milestone first step in the direction we have to go – which includes honest recognition of all of the true costs of products, and fair allocation of those costs to those selling and those buying and using those products – rather than pushing them off on local governments (i.e., taxpayers) already struggling to make ends meet. I urge Gov. Mills to sign the legislation so we can start down the path of fairly allocating the costs of products in our marketplace. ~ Leo Mondale, Portland