No “waste-to-energy” incinerator in Sullivan
The Sullivan County (NY) Legislature
The Sullivan County Legislature is actively considering building a "waste-to-energy facility"—in other words, a trash incinerator—in our region.
But incinerators pollute the air, water, and soil with harmful contaminants, damaging human health, the environment, and property values. They are expensive to build and run, and they don't generate much energy. Indeed, waste incineration companies make much more money getting paid to take waste than they do selling energy.
And incinerators don't get rid of waste; they just reduce its volume. What remains is concentrated toxic waste that must be disposed of in a costly, specialized landfill.
Instead of pursuing an approach that threatens us all, officials should move toward real solutions based on mitigation, diversion, and waste-reduction strategies.
Sponsored by
Additional Sponsors
To:
The Sullivan County (NY) Legislature
From:
[Your Name]
We, the undersigned, call on the Sullivan County Legislature to cancel plans for a feasibility study for a "waste-to-energy" facility—in other words, a trash incinerator that:
THREATEN HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Waste incinerators are major emitters of pollutants, including toxic “forever chemicals,” such as PFAS, that cause a host of diseases, including cancers, heart disease, and reproductive disorders, among many others—particularly in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, where these facilities are disproportionately sited. Per unit of energy, incinerators discharge more air pollution than coal plants and more greenhouse gases than any other power source.
ARE EXPENSIVE TO BUILD AND OPERATE
New incinerators in developed countries cost between $150 million and $670 million, and taxpayers wind up footing the bill. Contracts invariably require municipalities to provide a certain amount of waste each year, leading to a need to import trash. The city's costly incinerator is the primary reason Detroit went bankrupt.
DO NOT SOLVE THE WASTE PROBLEM
“Waste to energy” facilities transform waste into more toxic, concentrated forms; waste doesn’t disappear. Contaminated ash, wastewater sludge, and filters that capture harmful emissions must be disposed of in expensive landfills certified to handle hazardous waste.
DO NOT GENERATE MUCH ENERGY
Incinerators must burn huge amounts of waste to recover even small amounts of fuel, making them the most inefficient and polluting method to generate electricity.
Gas, coal, and nuclear facilities all generate more energy.
DAMAGE THE ECONOMY
In 2022, visitors and second-home owners contributed nearly $900 million to Sullivan County's economy, generating almost $48 million in local taxes and letting Sullivan County households save $3,370 in taxes, on average. A waste-to-energy incinerator would likely cause air and water pollution, noise, and smells—and erode tourism, tax revenues, and property values.
Bottom line: So-called waste-to-energy incinerators come with inherent pollution and health risks, and are financially unfeasible.
SULLIVAN COUNTY DESERVES BETTER
We, the undersigned residents and workers of Sullivan and neighboring counties, ask the Legislature to protect our future, our health, our environment, and our economy, and reject proposals like so-called waste-to-energy facilities that threaten us all. We instead call on the Legislature to move to real, economical solutions based on mitigation, diversion, and waste-reduction strategies.