Read the newest report from Toxics Action Center.

Blowing Smoke: 10 Reasons Why Gasification, Pyrolysis & Plasma Incineration are not "Green Solutions"

From our press release:

Boston , MA –Seven groups released a report today - illustrating the negative impacts of new waste incineration technologies. An Industry Blowing Smoke concludes that new incineration technologies, like older-style burners, are expensive, inefficient and contribute to both climate change and serious public health impacts.

“Trash incineration is more carbon-intensive than coal power and a leading source of dioxins in the United States,” stated Sylvia Broude Lead Organizer for the Toxics Action Center in Boston, an environmental and public health non-profit. “Coming up with new ways to burn garbage is just another assault on public health and the climate.”

In recent months, companies like Covanta, Casella and Waste Management have launched massive lobbying campaigns aimed at convincing state and federal governments to include waste incineration as a renewable source of energy in the Renewable Electricity Standard in the Waxman-Markey climate bill – a legislative tool used to help utilities transition from greenhouse gas-intensive power generation to renewable energy such as wind and solar. The waste industry, which relies heavily on government subsidies and tax credits, is misleadingly marketing a new generation of incinerator technologies as green technologies. The new report debunks industry efforts to greenwash gasification, pyrolysis and plasma incineration, pointing to more sensible directions that should be considered by decision makers.

“ Our communities need comprehensive zero waste plans that would help stabilize the climate, reduce toxic pollution and create jobs, not more incinerators in disguise,” said Bradley Angel, Executive Director of Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice. Based in San Francisco, Greenaction has helped dozens of communities across the country stop new incinerators and landfills and promote safer, more economical options of recycling and composting. Recently, San Jose, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz County and Sacramento turned down gasification and plasma arc incinerator proposals in favor of such strategies."

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