Environmental issues such as recycling, water quality, and product stewardship are of immense importance to the business community. These issues impact businesses everyday and nearly every industry is affected. Despite these implications, proposed efforts seek to tighten water quality criteria, tax retail plastic bags, and implement beverage container deposit laws that may hurt current recycling efforts. Clearly, such a regulatory climate will put Florida in a severely disadvantaged position, compared to other states, when it comes to retaining or attracting businesses.
AIF’s newest council, the Environmental Sustainability Council (ESC), has been created from the former Recycling Task Force to address these issues and educate policy makers about their impact on Florida’s economic & natural environment.
AIF members have been active leaders on many environmental issues over the years, including pro active solutions to reduce, re-use and recycle. Senator Lee Constantine (R-Altamonte Springs), Chair of the Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee, applauded AIF for stepping up and being a leader on the recycling issue. By participating and creating cost effective recycling programs, Florida can realize an increase in its recycling rate and businesses can save money while protecting Florida’s natural resources. Recycling can also provide additional economic development that Florida needs.
The impact of new water quality standards will affect every major industry - agriculture, landscaping, power generation, silviculture, mining, seaports, development, small businesses, even tourist attractions and recreational facilities. As of late, the state of Florida has been singled out by the federal government to comply with arbitrary and unreasonable numeric nutrient water quality standards. Non-scientific standards set by the EPA stand to inhibit Florida’s economic development as well as Florida’s natural environment. Excessively reducing nutrient standards could damage fisheries in some of Florida’s most productive lakes, become impractically expensive to undertake, and reclaimed water projects could be stymied or cost prohibitive to communities and customers.
ESC Issues Water Quality
Encourage state and federal elected officials to oppose the enactment of unscientific numeric nutrient content levels in Florida’s bodies of water; this proposal will cost hundreds of millions and stifle any economic development in Florida
Oppose the enactment of “Springs Protection” legislation which will cost residents and businesses incredible amounts of money in order to comply with septic tank regulations which are not science based
Encourage the legislature to appropriately fund alternative water supply programs
Recycling
AIF and its Recycling Task Force are developing a “Plan to Increase Florida’s Recycling Rate and Reduce Waste” which will be presented to legislators this winter in response to the state’s 75% Recycling Goal
Oppose efforts to enact a tax on plastic bags – Florida’s business community is already doing a lot to encourage consumers to use reusable bags
Oppose efforts to enact a “bottle bill” or solid waste disposal tax in order to raise possible funds for recycling efforts
