GAIAs network formed in December 2000 to end all forms of incineration and to promote safe and sustainable alternatives.

Our ultimate vision is a just, toxic-free world, and an economy where all products are reused, repaired or recycled back into the marketplace or nature. Today, GAIA has more than 600 members in 90 countries.

An Essential Question

Incineration of MSW: A Clean Energy Technology?

CO2 emissions from incineration

Source: U.S. EPA, 2007, epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/airemissions.html

Including biogenic emissions, according to the IPCC

Costs of Incineration

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration. Excerpted from Table 2-5, page 2-10 of Updated Capital Cost Estimates for Electricity Generation Plants (November 2010) O&M= Operating and Maintenance.

Waste incineration is more expensive than advanced nuclear energy, as well as solar, wind and coal

Health dangers from incineration

MOST WIDELY KNOWN INCINERATOR POLLUTANTS OF CONCERN
DIOXINS PCBs LEAD ACIDIC GASES

CADMIUM
ARSENIC CHROMIUM MERCURY

PARTICULATE MATTER
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHs)

Source: National Research Council, 2000. Waste Incineration and Public Health, Washington, DC: National Academy Press

Key issues of incineration

Consume vast quantities of resources Undermine recycling Destroy livelihoods

Bankrupt communities
Produce toxic ash and air emissions Emit greenhouse gases Once cities invest their money in expensive new incinerators, nothing is left for inclusive recycling programs!

Landfill gas collection of MSW

Municipal Waste Dump or Landfill

Sanitary Landfill with Landfill Gas Collection System under Construction (dwells and

plumbing to collect the gas)

Key issues of LFG system

Single stream to landfill systems displace recyclers, eliminating livelihoods

Exaggerated methane recovery, low efficiency

Misguided subsidies create perverse incentives to dump more organics, undermining composting, clean biogas, and animal feed programs

Real Alternatives and their Benefits

Kg CO2 per ton of waste

Source: Assessment of Materials Management Options for the Massachusetts Solid Waste Master Plan Review, Tellus Institute December 2008, p.2.

Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, compilation of data from various studies

Lets Invest in Inclusive Zero Waste

Design for recycling & reuse Respect the rights of recyclers & communities Stop waste in the first place, & eliminate hazardous materials Separate wet & dry at source Divert organics & eliminate uncontrolled methane

Recycling Workers Around the World

Recycling in Tamil Nadu

Recycling in Brazil

Recycling in Bali

Recycling in San Francisco

Community Biogas Plant in Mumbai

Large-scale Composting

Getting to Zero Waste

San Francisco has surpassed 75% Other smaller communities have too Organics, worker and resident participation is the key Easier to tackle residuals once you can see them

Lavazza Capsules in landfill. The Cappannori Zero Waste Research Center is in conversation with this company and Nespresso to find solutions to this growing waste stream problem.

Solutions for a Quadruple Bottom Line

Better Economics Improved Livelihoods Healthier Environment Good for the Climate

Thanks!

christie@no-burn.org
GAIA - Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives

India: Recyclers are the Real Climate Heroes

RDF Waste-to-energy plants: 7.700 t/C02 by 2020 = USD 150 million

Main issues:
- WPs achieve the highest rate of emissions reductions

- 80% of MSW is organic, so plastic and paper become very important to the quality of the RDF and compete directly with WPs
- 50% of plastic and paper can be recycled, so theres a surplus of credits
Source: Cushing, 2010