Debunking myths about Waste to Energy facilities

Incineration companies like Reworld like to greenwash and rebrand themselves as environmentally friendly when they are anything but. So we are going to separate fact from fiction.

Myth: Waste incineration is a source of renewable energy.

Fact: Municipal waste is non-renewable, consisting of discarded materials such as paper, plastic and glass that are derived from finite natural resources such as forests that are being depleted at unsustainable rates.

Myth: Modern incinerators have pollution control devices such as filters and scrubbers that make them safe for communities.

Fact: Even the most technologically advanced incinerators release thousands of pollutants that contaminate our air, soil, and water.

Myth: Modern incinerators efficiently produce electricity.

Fact: All incinerators are a massive waste of energy. Due to the low calorific value of waste, incinerators are only able to make small amounts of energy while destroying large amounts of reusable materials.

Myth: Incinerators provide jobs for communities.

Fact: Recycling creates 10-20 times more jobs than incinerators. Incinerators require huge capital investment, but they offer relatively few jobs when compared to recycling.

In conclusion, there is nothing good about incineration.

This is why we must continue to fight and speak out against incinerators. Companies like ReWorld will greenwash and gaslight the everyday person into thinking burning trash is the only solution to the world’s waste problem, but it’s not. There are better ways.

Source: https://www.no-burn.org/wp-content/uploads/Incinerator_Myths_vs_Facts-Feb2012.pdf