CRCQL celebrates Philly’s Stop Trashing Our Air resolution!

Philadelphia Councilmember Gauthier presents Stop Trashing Our Air Resolution

On Thursday, September 18, Philadelphia Councilmember Jamie R. Gauthier presented the Stop Trashing Our Air resolution, declaring that Philadelphia must stop sending its trash to be burned in Chester. Philadelphia currently sends a majority of its waste to the largest trash incinerator in the nation, Covanta (now named Reworld), located in Chester, PA and just 15 miles south of the city. 

The Covanta/Reworld incinerator burns up to 3,500 tons of trash per day, 70% of which becomes toxic air pollution and 30% becomes toxic ash sent to landfill.  Almost a third of the trash burned in Chester is from Philadelphia. 

Burning waste releases large amounts of several pollutants including nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, lead and particulate matter. These pollutants are linked with respiratory illnesses like asthma and put individuals at higher risk for diseases, including cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and others. The impact of facilities like Covanta/Reworld on the health of Chester residents can be seen in the staggeringly high rates of cancer and asthma in the City, where the childhood asthma rate is 5x the national average. 

“For too long Chester residents have been paying for the region’s trash problems with their lives. Less than 2% of the trash burned at Reworld is from Chester, the rest is from Philadelphia, NYC, Delaware County, NJ and other states,” stated Zulene Mayfield, Chairperson of Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL). 

It should also be noted that air pollution doesn’t stay in one place. Chester is right outside of the city of Philadelphia, meaning its surrounding residents also suffer from the air pollution that Covanta/Reworld emits every day from burning trash. 

Mayfield  added, “Chester has become the dumping ground for the region, and we are determined to change that. We thank Councilmember Gauthier for her leadership in putting this resolution forward and committing to diverting Philly’s trash away from Chester. It is about time that the city of brotherly love treat its sister city Chester with love and stop contributing to polluting residents with their trash.”

More information on Zulene Mayfield, CRCQL and how to get involved at ChesterPaEJ.org.