Burning waste for energy. What it means.

Where: India, Indonesia, China, Australia, Lebanon, Ethiopia

The Problem: Garbage around the globe amounted to 2.2 billion tons in 2016.

The Solution: “Waste-to-energy” plants burn garbage to produce energy. The global market for these plants will be $45 billion over the next 8 years.

What Opponents Say: Incinerators spew harmful chemicals into the air and have the potential to create toxic ash. In the U.S. incinerators are most common in low-income communities and communities of color. 

What Government Says: The plants lock cities into a contract requiring a minimum amount of waste or face a hefty penalty (7-8 figures) while plant operators seek favorable green energy tax benefits.

Key Takeaway: Waste to Energy Plants have the potential to greatly reduce landfill waste. Filters and scrubbers are being used at U.S. and U.K. plants to reduce the environmental concerns.

Ensia | As the world’s garbage piles up, controversy over waste-to-energy incineration continues