Our political leaders have expressed only support for this proposal, even insisting that it is part of their Zero Waste Challenge (a fraudulent misuse of a slogan coined by opponents of incineration4).
Politicians seem to be assuming that the public is on board with this plan, even though there is evidence to the contrary (see “Public Comments” at bottom of page).
Like other municipal politicians, Marvin Hunt, Chair of the regional Waste Management Committee, seems to think the question is about what kind of incinerators to build, rather than whether to go down this road at all. As recently as last June, Hunt told the CBC: “concerns are premature because the committee hasn’t decided on the exact type of waste-to-energy plants it wants to build.”5 There are lots of technologies under consideration: plasma-arc, gasification, pyrolysis, as well as old-fashioned mass-burn incinerators like the one presently operating in Burnaby.
But Metro’s intent is clear, underscored in a public statement by Hunt reported in the Abbotsford News on September 29 2008: “Metro Vancouver is committed to the waste-to-energy (incineration) option.”6
A handful of meetings were held last spring where the public could comment on the Metro Plan.
A staff report later conceded that “Many participants raised concerns about expanding the use of WTE [incineration] facilities in Metro Vancouver as a processing option.”
In fact, comments documented in the report ran four-to-one against incineration/gasification. Participants identified a wide variety of concerns about the project, citing possible health impacts, cost, and a whole list of other initiatives that they would prefer to see implemented instead.
One participant asked: “Why is $1.2 billion being put aside for waste-to-energy and only $30 million for composting. Why are the bulk of tax dollars going to the bottom of the 5R Hierarchy?”
4Zero Waste International Alliance: “... conserve and recover all resources and not burn or bury them.” (cited October 4, 2008)
5June 24, 2008: http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/06/24/bc-waste-to-energy-metro-vancouver.html?ref=rss (cited October 3, 2008)
6“Penner says Valley will be consulted on incinerators” Abbotsford News, September 29, 2008