Title: [GreenYes] Re: Action Alert: Incinerators are not Renewable Energy
Arguments for opposing qualifying incineration as source renewable
energy are quite
current.
The two reports linked to below are a good starting place for data on
greenhouse gas emissions
from incineration (both are 2006 reports). The first report, which
looks at
incinerators throughout Europe, shows that when the full extent of CO2
emissions
coming out of the stack of incinerators are considered, incinerators
are more
greenhouse gas intensive per killowatt hour of electricity generated
than coal
burning power plants. The second report is the EPA's analysis of
lifecycle
greenhouse gas emissions comparing recycling, composting, source
reduction,
landfilling and incineration for various materials. Source reduction,
reuse, recycling and
composting are far more climate friendly options than incineration.
http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/sccwebsite/sccwspublications.nsf/WebLookupFileResourcesByPRINT/docidA27A1CAC984C7F3B802571650028946B?opendocument
http://epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/waste/SWMGHGreport.html
As for your comment "...if the waste is not burnt in an incinerator,
it will land up in a landfill site where it will decompose and produce
carbon monoxide (CO) and Methane(CH4).": The logical answer to methane
and other ghg emissions from landfills is not incineration, it is
source-separating conditional methane generating biogenic materials
(food scraps, paper, etc.) for reuse, recycling and composting.
Dave Ciplet
GAIA
On Aug 14, 1:42 am, teeman <teeman...@no.address> wrote:
> Dear Dave
>
> Your sample letter to the congressman leaves me astounded. You state
> that" more than 130 environmental and community based organisations"
> have expressed that in a sign-on statement that incinerators are a
> detriment to the climate, economy and health of the US communities".
> This is typical of the uncomprehending, mindless parrot cries that are
> being tossed around in a misinformed, ignorant campaign.
> It is correct to say that incinerators do emit carbon dioxide. Carbon
> dioxide has been proved to create a green house gas effect in the
> atmosphere. However, if the waste is not burnt in an incinerator, it
> will land up in a landfill site where it will decompose and produce
> carbon monoxide (CO) and Methane(CH4). Both of these are green house
> gases.
>
> I refer to the American EPAwebsite and dozens of other European
> Community equivalent. These sources list various gases in terms of the
> green house damage done by one kilogram of each gas when compared with
> the damage done by one kilogram of CO2. One kilogram of methane does
> twenty five times more damage than one kilogram of CO2. The factor of
> 2 and 25 quoted here are known as " Carbon Dioxide Equivalents".
> This should not be taken to infer that the combined mass of CO and CH4
> will be as much as the CO2 emitted. None the less a detailed analysis
> of the relative emissions from a landfill site vs an incinerator shows
> that the net greenhouse damage from a landfill emisions produce are at
> least 6 times worse than from incineration.
>
> If Dave and his 130 sign-on organisations are open minded enough to
> put outdate concepts behind them, they should welcome incineration as
> a most effective means of reducing green house effects.
>
> It is important to note that a good incinerator is not a black box
> with a chimney on top. High tech modern incinerators eliminate
> significant emissions of acid gases, particulates, heavy metals-
> including mercury and those dreaded dioxins and furans.
>
> In closing I must point out that I support all measures to promote
> waste reduction, recycling and alternative enegry use. However, to
> condemn incineration out of habit because it has been done for so many
> years now, is of no benefit to anyone. I urge Congreeman Platts to go
> ahead with the incinerator project. The majority of waste will be
> there, whether you incinerate or not. It can be useful fuel and should
> be used to reduce the mining of coal or extraction of liquid/gaseous
> fuels.
>
> Brian Thomson
> Macrotech
> brianthom...@no.address
>
> On Aug 1, 3:47 am, Dave Ciplet <d...@no.address> wrote:
>
> > Please take action today to stop waste incinerators from qualifying
> > as a "renewable" source of energy in a bill expected to be introduced
> > to congress this week. The bill, called the Udall - Platts Renewable
> > Electricity Standard (HR 969), would require utilities nationally to
> > use 20% "renewable" energy by 2020. Qualifying incinerators as a
> > source of renewable energy in this or any other bill is a false
> > solution to climate change, and affront to environmental health and
> > justice in U.S. communities. Climate change demands that we
> > strengthen nationwide waste reduction, reuse, recycling and
> > composting as a means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy
> > use- and that we stop incentives for waste incineration!
>
> > Take Action:
>
> > (1) PHONE: Call Congressman Todd Russell Platts (R-PA) at (202)
> > 225-5836, and tell his staff that qualifying incinerators as a
> > renewable source of energy will elicit active opposition to the bill
> > among environmental and environmental justice organizations. Please
> > also call Congressman Tom Udall (D-NM) at (202) 225-6190 to deliver
> > the same message.
>
> > (2) FAX: Send Congressman Todd Russell Platts a personalized fax
> > about this issue at (202) 226-1000 . Please also send a fax to
> > Congressman Tom Udall at (202) 226-1331 . (Please see the sample
> > letter below for ideas).
>
> > (3) E-MAIL: Send an e-mail to Congressmen Todd Russell Platts and Tom
> > Udall saying that "Incinerators are Not Renewable Energy!". Click
> > the following link to take action:http://www.democracyinaction.org/
> > dia/organizationsORG/GAIA/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=12251
>
> > Sample letter:
>
> > Dear Congressman Platts,
>
> > As more than 130 environmental and community-based organizations have
> > expressed in the No Incentives for Incinerators sign-on statement,
> > incinerators are a detriment to the climate, economy, and the health
> > of U.S. communities.
>
> > I urge you to exclude "waste to energy" incineration from qualifying
> > as a source of renewable energy in Bill HR 969, or any other bill.
> > Qualifying incineration as a source of "renewable energy" would
> > elicit active opposition to the bill from environmental and
> > environmental justice organizations, and undermine the bill's public
> > support and credibility.
>
> > Climate change demands that we strengthen nationwide waste reduction,
> > reuse, recycling and composting as a means to reduce greenhouse gas
> > emissions and energy use- and that we stop incentives for waste
> > incineration.
>
> > I look forward to a response to my request at your earliest convenience.
>
> > Sincerely,
>
> > your name
>
> > Dave Ciplet
> > Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) (510)883-9490 ext. 102
> > d...@no.address
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