[Dioxin-l] Proposed incineration ban for Chicago

[Vergil Bushnell]

Thought this might be interesting. The proposed ban only covers small
incinerators, such as apartment building burners, and excludes medical and
hazardous waste incineration.

Sincerely,

Vergil

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Waste News                                               
December 20, 1999 
HEADLINE: Chicago weighs incinerator ban 

BYLINE: Bob Brown 

HIGHLIGHT: 
New proposed legislation could close estimated 75 small garbage
incinerators at apartment buildings, schools and businesses 

BODY: 
   CHICAGO -- Seeking to eliminate a source of Lake Michigan pollution,
Chicago officials are considering a ban on small garbage incinerators
used in apartment buildings, businesses and schools scattered throughout
the city. 

The city's Environment Department is drafting an ordinance that would
shutter an estimated 75 incinerators, spokeswoman Jessica Rio said last
week. Medical and hazardous waste incinerators at local hospitals would
not be affected, Rio said. 

The department proposed the ban to eliminate airborne contaminants, Rio
said. Incinerators emit toxins, particularly mercury but also lead and
dioxin, that settle in Lake Michigan, she said. 

Moreover, the incinerators are an unnecessary throwback to another era,
made obsolete by the well-integrated garbage collection and disposal
system enjoyed by the city, Rio said. "There's no need to burn trash," she
said. 

The number of small trash incinerators in use has been steadily shrinking,
Rio said. Many of those on a list provided by the city already have
been shut down, according to officials for those facilities. 

Environment Department officials do not know how many of those
incinerators remain in operation, Rio said. 

The initiative, which could be considered by the City Council as early as
next month, springs from Mayor Richard Daley's recently announced
Nature Chicago program to protect and enhance the environment, Rio said. 

For the few schools and business that continue to operate incinerators,
the prohibition certainly would result in higher disposal costs. 

"We obviously would have more trash that would have to be carried away,"
said Jerry O'Brien, parish manager for St. Benedict church and
schools on the city's North Side. 

After removing recyclables, all remaining trash generated from the
cafeterias at a grade school and high school is burned daily along with
other combustible materials, O'Brien said. He could not provide an
estimate of
the volume. The incinerator seldom is used in the summer months, he
said. 

Chicago Dowel Co.'s incinerator burns sawdust, the residue of the wood
used in its manufacturing process, said Vice President Russell Iacono.
He declined to give specifics on how often the incinerator is in operation
or the volume of sawdust. 

The company would take a costly hit if the incinerator must shut down
because it also generates heat for the plant, Iacono said. If the ban is
approved by the council, Chicago Dowel must turn to natural gas, he said. 

"I don't understand the city being against it," Iacono said. "Whatever we
emit is approved by the city." 

Rio said no decision has been made on whether dual-purpose incinerators
like the one at Chicago Dowel will be included in the ban. 

___________________
Vergil Bushnell
Multinationals Resource Center

email: vbushnell@essential.org
phone: 202.387.8030
address: PO Box 19405, Washington DC 20036