gaia ace may_2010
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
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