So Called Magic Machines

Friday, June 27, 2008

CREDIT: Marcia Downham/Times International waste management expert Dr. Paul Connett trashed the plasma gasification plants Metro Vancouver proposes to build in coming years to deal with its garbage.

Debate sizzled during a Monday night forum in Abbotsford over Metro Vancouver's plan to build up to six waste-to-energy incinerators, which its detractors say would pose health risks to valley residents.

"As a society we need to have better leadership and really push the basics of reuse, recycle and compost. We should not rely on so called magic machines that claim to cleanly burn our waste," said Dr. Paul Connett, one of the world's leading experts in waste management and a strong advocate for recycling.

Waste-to-energy plants are "incinerators in disguise" and are just a "money trap" hyped up by promoters, he told about 250 people who came to listen to the panel presentation at City Hall.

If Metro Vancouver approves the six incinerators, at a cost of up to $2 billion, valley residents could face serious health implications, he said.

The plants would waste valuable resources, including the resource of trash, and will undermine the efforts to recycle and to consume less, he argued.

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© Abbotsford Times 2008

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