City Misleads Public on Climate Benefits of Trash Incineration: Shocking Report Reveals the Truth

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The city of Toronto is facing a tough choice about its waste management as its main landfill, Green Lane, is projected to reach capacity by 2035. Recently, a report from the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) raised questions about the city’s claim that burning trash produces less greenhouse gas emissions than landfilling.

While the city is exploring options like energy-from-waste incineration to handle its waste, TEA argues that burning trash can lead to more emissions than traditional landfilling. Emily Alfred from TEA stated, “That statement is just not true,” emphasizing that the environmental data has changed over the years.

The Study Behind the Claims

TEA’s report analyzed carbon emissions from four waste disposal methods—two types of incineration and two types of landfilling. It found that incinerating garbage could create over double the greenhouse gases compared to a regular landfill. When comparing incineration to advanced landfill technologies, like those that convert methane into natural gas, the emissions from burning trash could be six times higher.

The research was led by environmental engineer Belinda Li, who calculated emissions based on data from Ontario’s existing incinerators, including Emerald Energy From Waste and the Durham York Energy Centre. According to her analysis, incineration produces significantly more carbon dioxide, with the Durham facility emitting an estimated 400,000 tonnes of CO2 annually compared to just 63,000 tonnes from an advanced landfill setup.

Conflicting Perspectives

Not everyone agrees with TEA’s conclusions. Joseph Lyng from Emerald Energy From Waste disputed the claims, suggesting that the study underestimated landfill emissions due to delayed installation of gas collection systems. He also argued that waste processing at nearby incinerators is more efficient than trucking garbage long distances to landfills.

A spokesperson for the City of Toronto maintained that their position still believes incineration “generally” yields less carbon dioxide than landfilling. They noted that further evaluations will consider the full environmental impacts if incineration is pursued more seriously.

The Bigger Picture

This debate taps into a broader conversation about waste management and “greenwashing,” where companies and industries promote their practices as environmentally friendly, even when they may not be. Alfred warned that continuing to present the incineration method as a simple solution could mislead the public and pave the way for policies favoring this method.

In some regions, like the UK, there are growing calls to move away from incineration due to its environmental consequences. This ongoing discussion highlights the urgent need for transparency and accuracy in environmental claims, particularly as cities like Toronto work to define their waste management strategies for the future.

In the end, understanding the real impacts of various waste disposal methods is critical. As residents prepare for a changing approach to waste management, solid information will empower them to engage in meaningful discussions about their environmental choices.

For more in-depth insights, you can check the full report by the Toronto Environmental Alliance here or the City of Toronto’s waste management strategy here.

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