Six other states are working on mercury standards that would demand steeper, faster cuts than those set forth in the federal plan, though none reportedly as severe as the proposal put forward by Illinois´ Democratic governor. The other states are Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina and Wisconsin.

As expected, the power industry and other critics of Blagojevich´s plan are gearing up for battle, issuing statements saying the measure would cost consumers dearly while providing minimal health benefits.

The Detroit Free Press weighs in with an editorial praising the Illinois proposal and urging Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and other Great Lakes governors to follow suit.

Stay tuned, utility honchos and freshwater fish eaters.

I turned up another noteworthy story from the Chicago Tribune yesterday about the ongoing cleanup of Hurricane Katrina debris in and around New Orleans. The article is full of sharp details, like the description of a crew of fridge cleaner-outers at the Old Gentilly landfill who casually munch sandwiches while they work, inured to the reek of the rotting food around them. Says one: "On a cold day it´s not that bad, but on a hot day, it´s interesting."

The Napa Valley [Calif.] Register published a status report Sunday about the cleanup of debris from the flood that struck the region on New Year´s Eve. The inundation was, obviously, a harsh blow for the area, especially for those who lost a lot of possessions, and our heart goes out to them. But Napa´s residents are no strangers to floods, having endured five such deluges in the last two decades, and the city is rising courageously to the task of digging out and rebuilding.

The city of Seattle recently stepped up enforcement of its mandatory recycling program. The punishment for businesses found to have more than 10% recyclable material in their garbage (after two warnings) is a $50 fine. Homeowners caught exceeding the 10% limit don´t get hit with a fine, but the city does leave their trash behind for a week.

The Seattle Times excoriates the city´s toughened-up tactics in an editorial titled "How About 100 Lashes Instead?"

"Seattle has long been a recycling leader," the newspaper opines. "People do not need to be punished, only prodded or nagged occasionally. ... This is recycling run amok. Mayor Greg Nickels launched this program, the City Council went along, and all of them should have the good sense to can the punitive part of it."

We´ll revisit the zero waste issue Thursday. See you then.

Pete Fehrenbach is assistant managing editor of Waste News. Past installments of this column are collected in the Inbox archive.