What is the Stop Trashing our Air Resolution?

On Thursday, September 18, Philadelphia Councilmember Jamie R. Gauthier presented the Stop Trashing Our Air resolution, to stop incinerating Philadelphia trash in Chester, PA! Watch this short clip to see her presentation to Philadelphia City Council.

Philadelphia currently sends over one-third of its waste to the largest trash incinerator in the nation, contributing to air pollution that impacts the entire region. The resolution prohibits the City of Philadelphia from contracting with companies that incinerate the city’s solid waste or recyclables. 

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. 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.

We strongly encourage you to reach out to Philly council members to voice your support of this resolution!  CRCQL will certainly keep you posted on when it will be considered for a vote.