EcoTrashSolutions

Should the US use Waste Incineration for Energy?

It appears that European countries such as Denmark are finding ways to generate clean energy—through trash.  Massive energy plants have been constructed that burn thousands of tons of household garbage and industrial waste per day. These ‘waste-to-energy’ plants are way cleaner than conventional incinerators. As the plant converts trash into heat, dozens of filters catch pollutants (such as mercury or dioxin) and prevents them from being released into the atmosphere. Now, waste-to-energy plants are the main form of garbage disposal and a crucial fuel source in Denmark.  The benefits associated with these plants include reduced energy costs, reduced reliance on oil and gas, and environmental benefits regarding less landfill and CO2 emission.

While waste-to-energy plants are growing rapidly throughout Europe, there is no production or even plans for production in the US. Instead, we continue to rely on landfills to store our millions of tons of trash. Why hasn’t America jumped on this opportunity to decrease landfill use AND create clean alternate renewable energy? According to Matt Hall, director of the Office of Resource Conservation of the EPA, it is because of the abundance of cheap landfills available,  opposition from state officials who fear the plants would undercut recycling programs, and a ‘negative public perception’.  It seems environmental activists would rather push for zero waste and more recycling than for practical disposal of waste. Other reasons include the ‘not in my backyard’ response…no one wants a massive trash burning plant in their community.

Overall, it appears America is being fiscally and environmentally irresponsible by not latching on to this trash as energy trend.  Though some of the reasons stated for NOT engaging in production of waste to energy plants are valid, others are quite frankly immature. If you can’t stand to look at a plant that is bettering the environment, how are you going to stand to look at a world covered in trash when the landfills overflow?