Story of Broke - Learn More Here.
Communities worldwide are leaving the dinosaur economy described in Story of Broke behind to invest in healthy and jobs-creating zero waste solutions. GAIA celebrates and supports their efforts!
Instead of investing in incinerators we should build a strong recycling and reuse economy.
1. Incinerators are a bad choice. Supposed "waste to energy" incinerators are a real waste of time, money, and resources. Burning trash is the most expensive way to generate energy, and creates more climate and mercury pollution than coal-fired power plants. Incinerators also create toxic ash and burn valuable resources that should be recycled and composted.
2. Cities are going broke because incinerators are risky investments, representing truly "toxic assets." Harrisburg, PA recently filed for bankruptcy because of the debt owed on its incinerator. Other cities like Detroit, MI and Camden, NJ are facing similar burdens. A Wheelabrator incinerator in Massachusetts recently paid $7.5 million for defrauding communities.
3. Incinerators get taxpayer money that is meant for clean, renewable energy. Grants, loans, tax breaks, and higher payments for energy are just some of the ways that local, state and federal government have kept this industry going. Fortunately strong community opposition across the country means that new waste to energy incinerators haven't been built - but they will if we don't stop them.
4. Congress is poised to make the situation worse with bills (HR 2250, HR 2681, HR 66) that would exempt many incinerators and cement kilns that burn wastes from the Clean Air Act and give new tax write offs.
It's not just in the U.S. that governments underwrite this economically-challenged industry. From carbon trading schemes to outright grants, there are too many unfortunate examples of toxic waste industry projects that have been paid for with public funds. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has even provided more than half a million dollars of U.S. taxpayer funding to promote incineration in the Philippines, where these projects violate that country's clean air laws!
There are so many better options than funding waste to energy incinerators and landfills. Incinerators are polluting and expensive, and waste recyclable stuff. Zero Waste investments reduce waste, create healthier communities, generate good and dignified jobs, conserve energy, and reduce climate change.
Subsidies for incinerators are available from: Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) in some states, Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS), Federal Renewable Electricity Production Tax Credit (PTC), Business Energy Investments Tax Credit (ITC), U.S. Department of Treasury Renewable Energy Grants, Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credit (MTC), Renewable Energy Production Incentive (REPI), Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG), Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs), Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds (QECBs), U.S. Department of Energy Loan Guarantee Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Grant, U.S. Department of Agriculture Biorefinery Assistance Program, and others.
