Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Peter B. Lord
Journal Environment Writer

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts joined leaders of several environmental groups in speaking out Thursday afternoon against legislation that would lift the state's 15-year ban against burning garbage.

Roberts said incineration should be considered as part of an open and public discussion about handling the state's solid waste, not the subject of a bill handled at the end of a legislative session.

"I am hoping the bills will not pass this year and we'll have a long and public discussion," Roberts said. She joined Annie Costner of Clean Water Action, Sylvia Broude of the Toxics Action Center and Tricia Jedele, the new executive director of the Conservation Law Foundation in a press conference at the State House. They also released a national report condemning the gasification of solid waste. The report is called "An Industry Blowing Smoke."

Incineration will spew toxics into the air, lower the state's incentives to recycle and reduce its wastes and lock the state into a long term contract to supply wastes to a profit making company that would burn it to create energy, they said.

Covanta, a national waste to energy company, and Jefferson Renewable Energy, a local company, want to build plants at the state's Central Landfill in Johnston. Dozens of people attended a hearing sponsored by the House Finance Committee in May. A Senate hearing is expected, but not scheduled. The bills lifting the incineration ban are H6053 and S933.

 Tags  Covanta waste to energy

Comments

John said:

Of course they say that. THat doesn't mean it is either true or that we should ay attention to them.

Burn baby, burn.

Link | June 18, 2009 2:48 PM
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Secret Weapon said:

Why is it that allowing waste incineration is being considered by the Genius Assembly (sarcasm), yet we cannot recycle plastic containers marked with anything other "1" and "2," and we still have to travel to Massachusetts to redeem bottles and cans for a five cent refund? For what is supposedly one of the most "liberal" states in the country, our government certainly hasn't been very progressive on matters like this at all. It seems to be run by a bunch of well-connected old-timers with their heads in the sand and nary a single creative idea in their heads. Sometimes it seems like the only really liberal trait of the GA is its spending habits.

Link | June 18, 2009 4:32 PM
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