October 16, 2009
Dear Editor:
I take exception to describing energy produced by incineration as “green”.
A technology that burns valuable resources, produces greenhouse gases, consumes fossil fuels, sends deadly mercury, dioxins and furans into the air and highly toxic ash into landfills cannot possibly be considered “green”.
The solution to the garbage dilemma can be found by focusing on the problem of waste generation. We need to consume less, enact extended producer responsibility laws that will cause manufacturers to design with reuse and the environment in mind, ban non-essential disposable items and expand compost and recycling programs.
Incinerators are expensive for taxpayers, employ few people and create health hazards. By contrast applying Zero Waste solutions shares the cost of waste with product manufacturers, offers opportunities to entrepreneurs to create waste repair, reuse and recycling businesses, preserves resources and protects human health.
It’s time we stopped relying on the magic bullet of technology to solve our waste problem and use human creativity and ingenuity to arrive at cost-effective, economy-boosting and environmentally sound solutions.
Liz Benneian
Founder, the Ontario Zero Waste Coalition
President, Oakvillegreen Conservation Association
