Garbage In, Garbage Out

In a new law effective July 1, Vermonters are asked to save leftovers like peels, rinds, cores, eggshells, coffee grounds and tea bags from the garbage, plus unfinished “plate scraps” like bread, meat, veggies, fruit, dairy, sweets, sauces and food that’s gone bad. From there, people are instructed to compost the scraps, coordinate a curbside pick-up or drop them off at a composting site. [More]

What about all the diseases from fungus, bacteria, etc. that you, pets and wild animals getting into it can catch and spread?

Y'know, you can't handle "hazardous materials" on any kind of widespread scale without documented training including the use of Material Safety Data Sheets, and with proper controls to avoid exposure or to respond to that if it happens. Yet these environmentalcase mandarins are dropping this on people with no apparent regard for their safety -- including older citizens and those with respiratory issues who might not react beneficially to spore exposure and the like.

Composting can be good if you know what you're doing. If you don't, this seems as irresponsible as holding a gun "buyback" and expecting some widow who has never touched a gun to take the one her late husband left in the closet and safely (and lawfully) handle, unload and transport it to a collection location.

[Via Michael G]