Let’s Say “No” to Incineration in Canada
TOOLKIT:
OVERVIEW:
Domestic and international vendors are aggressively promoting their “energy-from-waste” incinerator technology to Canadian municipalities as a way to manage solid waste. Mass-burn incineration or gasification proposals are now being considered in: Durham Region (Southern Ontario), Metro Vancouver, City of Ottawa, Port Hope (Southern Ontario) and Red Deer (Alberta).
Incinerators emit hundreds of pollutants, including carcinogens, to air, land and water. Health Canada states that the biggest source of dioxins and furans, which are persistent carcinogens that accumulate in our bodies and in the environment, is the large scale burning of municipal and medical waste.
A comprehensive cancer prevention strategy means reducing exposure to carcinogenic and toxic substances at every opportunity. Our “Incineration Tool Kit” is designed to inform you about the health impacts of municipal incineration, to provide an overview of other concerns with incineration and to introduce the concept of Zero Waste - a sustainable and healthier long-term materials management strategy. We also provide links to other documents and organizations as well as to a list of groups and individuals we’ve identified to date who are opposing incineration and/or advocating for Zero Waste in Canada.
We are calling on all Canadians to inform themselves about the health and environmental impacts of waste incineration and sustainable and healthy alternatives. We urge you to sign our Position Statement and inform municipal, provincial and federal politicians of your concerns.
Linda Gasser, PCN Anti-Incineration Campaign Coordinator
