www.no-burn.orgwww.no-burn.org

GAIA is a worldwide alliance of more than 600 GAIA is a worldwide alliance of more than 600 grassroots groups, non-governmental organizations, grassroots groups, non-governmental organizations, and individuals in over 82 countries whose ultimate and individuals in over 82 countries whose ultimate vision is a just, toxic-free world without incineration.vision is a just, toxic-free world without incineration.

Global Alliance for Incinerator AlternativesGlobal Alliance for Incinerator AlternativesAlsoAlso

Global Anti-Incinerator AllianceGlobal Anti-Incinerator Alliance

Waste, Workers & Climate JusticeWaste, Workers & Climate Justice

What is Waste?What is Waste?

Paper, Plastic, Metals, Food ScrapsPaper, Plastic, Metals, Food Scraps

Communities, Jobs, Ways of LifeCommunities, Jobs, Ways of Life

Cars, Computers, HomesCars, Computers, Homes

The U.S. Consumes 30% of the World’s The U.S. Consumes 30% of the World’s Resources, Emits 22% of the World’s Resources, Emits 22% of the World’s GHG emissions and Produces 30% of GHG emissions and Produces 30% of the World’s Wastethe World’s Waste

What is Climate Justice?What is Climate Justice?

4 R’s: Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, Redesign4 R’s: Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, Redesign

4 R’s of Climate Justice4 R’s of Climate Justice

Reduce Scale & Intensity of Industrial SystemsReduce Scale & Intensity of Industrial Systems

Resist Corporate Control & False SolutionsResist Corporate Control & False Solutions

Reclaim Community Control of ResourcesReclaim Community Control of Resources

Redesign equitable, closed - loop Redesign equitable, closed - loop and community-scale economiesand community-scale economies

Ash Landfill

MIX

INCINERATE

S E P A R A T E

Reuse Recycle Compost Toxic Removal

DISCARDED MATERIALS

Screening Facility

Residue

Landfill

BETTER INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

P.I.P Fraction

MIX

Raw Waste Landfill

•Toxic Pollution

•Financial Cost

•Wasted Resources

•Environmental Justice

•Climate Pollution

INCINERATION

Key Issues:

INCINERATION: Emissions

MOST WIDELY KNOWN INCINERATOR POLLUTANTS OF CONCERN

•LEAD

•ACIDIC GASES

•PARTICULATE MATTER

•POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHs)

•DIOXINS*

•PCBs*

•CADMIUM*

•ARSENIC*

•CHROMIUM

•MERCURY

Source: National Research Council, 2000. Waste Incineration and Public Health, Washington, DC: National Academy Press

INCINERATION: Cost

Costs of recently built incinerators

CAPITAL COSTS

•2009 US proposal for $700 million (STOPPED)

•2000 ton facility in Netherlands: $500 million

•Two recent incinerators in Japan: $808 million and $658 million

COST TO COMMUNITIES

•Detroit, MI saddled with $1.2 Billion Debt

•Harrisburg, PA considering bankruptcy - $67 Million per year payments

INCINERATION:

Burning Valuable Resources

Over 90 % of discarded materials burned Over 90 % of discarded materials burned in incinerators or dumped in landfills can in incinerators or dumped in landfills can be re-used, recycled or compostedbe re-used, recycled or composted

The rest probably should probably not be The rest probably should probably not be made in the first place: toxic, poor design made in the first place: toxic, poor design

Incineration & Environmental JusticeIncineration & Environmental Justice

INCINERATION: Climate Pollution

Incineration produces Incineration produces more COmore CO22 per unit of per unit of electricity generated electricity generated than coal powerthan coal power

U.S. U.S. EPAEPA

INCINERATION: Carbon Intensive

Source: U.S. EPA, 2007, epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/air-emissions.html

• 2nd Largest Source of Methane in U.S.

•Leachate of toxins

• Fires

• Evaporation of Toxic Organics

• Disposal of Hazardous Waste

• Social Inequity (Regional)

• Waste of Resources

LANDFILLS : KEY ISSUES

Methane is 72X more climate destructive than Carbon Dioxide over a 20 year period

www.storyofstuff.com

Stuff = 42% of U.S.GHG Emissions

Impact of a national zero waste policy:

• Shutting down one-fifth of U.S. coal power plants

• Taking half the US cars off the road

“Stop Trashing the Climate” Report Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Eco-Cycle and GAIAJune 2008

Solutions: Turning Waste to WorkSolutions: Turning Waste to Work

Recycling provides a minimum of 10 times as many jobs as landfills/incineration

Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, www.ilsr.org/recycling

Current Recycling JobsCurrent Recycling Jobs

1.1 million jobs nationally (as of 2001)

85,000 jobs in California

37 Billion dollar industry

San Francisco leading the U.S.

with 75% recycling rate

Aiming for Zero Waste by 2020

Source: Recycling Economic Information Study, R.W. Beck, 2001

Who decides ?Key Questions

Two Models for Decision Making

Citizens & Workers

Solution

Ask Experts to Design Solution Citizens can

live with

Decision Makers

Experts

Solution

Public Hearings

PUBLIC

PR etc.

Persuade public that the solution is good for them

Who Are the Real Experts?

Climate Policy: Cap and TradeClimate Policy: Cap and Trade

RE Standard: Biomass, WTE, LFGTERE Standard: Biomass, WTE, LFGTE

There are over 15 There are over 15 million waste workers million waste workers around the worldaround the world

Stop the Privatization of WasteStop the Privatization of Waste

Dangerous Industry

• 10x more likely to die on job

• Average of 125 members of the public die each year

• 45-60 Sanitation workers die every year

• 41% more fatal crashes than other work vehicles

The Recycling Works! campaign brings together waste The Recycling Works! campaign brings together waste workers, community and environmental justice activists to workers, community and environmental justice activists to create recycling programs that generate good jobs, combat create recycling programs that generate good jobs, combat climate change, create energy independence, and climate change, create energy independence, and revitalize community health.revitalize community health.

World’s Largest IncineratorWorld’s Largest Incinerator

US Social Forum US Social Forum DetroitDetroit

Mass DemonstrationMass DemonstrationIn Solidarity with In Solidarity with

Communities around the Communities around the WorldWorld

www.no-www.no-burn.orgburn.org