The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed new regulations on wastewater from meat and poultry processors could lead to the closure of up to 53 facilities by 2025, potentially disrupting the U.S. food supply and contributing to rising meat prices. These rules, which aim to limit pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus, have drawn praise from environmental advocates but sparked backlash from industry stakeholders, state officials, and policy experts who fear significant job losses and economic impact.
The new rules are part of an effort to update outdated Clean Water Act standards, following lawsuits from environmental groups. The EPA estimates that at least 16 plants will close, impacting around 17,000 jobs, though industry sources warn that as many as 74 plants could be forced to shut down, with job losses soaring as high as 317,000 when factoring in indirect effects.
Critics argue that the proposed changes represent federal overreach and that the compliance costs, particularly for smaller processors, could force them out of business, further straining the meat supply chain and raising prices for consumers. Some estimate compliance costs could exceed $1 billion annually.
While the EPA downplays the potential impact on food prices, predicting minimal increases between 0.01% to 0.06%, stakeholders warn that closures could exacerbate existing inflationary pressures, making meat and poultry products even less accessible to consumers.
Amid this debate, environmental groups argue that the regulations don’t go far enough in curbing pollution, while others worry that these changes could undermine efforts to strengthen the resilience of the U.S. food supply chain following COVID-19 disruptions.
