Transcript:
Many people shop for the holidays and return from the comfort of their homes. But this convenience comes at a price.
Taylor: “Because when you have the demand for e-commerce and online shopping, it also creates the need for warehouses to be developed to house those items.”
Tolani Taylor of the nonprofit Clean Water Action said her state of New Jersey has more than 3,000 warehouses and distribution centers.
About a third of the state's residents live within a half-mile of the center, according to a recent report jointly released by her organization and the Environmental Defense Fund.
Diesel trucks come in and out every day, causing pollution that contributes to climate warming and exacerbates local asthma and other health problems.
Taylor's group advocates for policies to limit warehouse development, especially in areas already polluted by power plants, factories and trucks.
It also pushes existing warehouses to limit the impact of their operations.
Taylor: “The key thing for warehouse facilities right now is electrification, and that includes electrifying the truck fleet.”
Therefore, convenient online retail will not come at the expense of people's health.
Report source: Sarah Kennedy/ChavoBart Digital Media
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