According to the Detroit News "Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick said today in a statement that Detroit won't buy the city incinerator, and instead will expand recycling and pay to landfill city refuse."
Detroit News Article: Detroit To Stop Using Incinerator
Monday, June 30, 2008
How Much Do We Value the Great Lakes?
A recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel series examines the high cost of ocean freighters on the Great Lakes. A 2005 study by the Joyce Foundation finds that the public only saves $55 million by allowing ocean vessels to use the Great Lakes, while the steady influx of invader species from the foreign ships are wreaking havoc on Lake Huron in a way that scientists thought unimaginable a few years ago.
GREAT LAKES, GREAT PERIL: A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Exclusive
Editorial: Close the Seaway
GREAT LAKES, GREAT PERIL: A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Exclusive
Editorial: Close the Seaway
Friday, June 27, 2008
The decision on whether or not to close the Detroit Incinerator to be made on Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Free Press video series
From the Ecology Center:
The City of Detroit currently faces a historic deadline of July 1, 2008 to close the largest trash incinerator in the world. The incinerator burns nearly 800,000 tons of trash per year currently at a cost of over $170 per ton to Detroit residents (5-7 times the cost of suburbs that recycle and landfill). Hazardous air pollutants from the facility include mercury, lead and dioxins. Asthma hospitalization rates in Detroit are 3-4 times the average rate of the state of Michigan. In addition to these staggering figures, Detroit is the only city of the 30 largest cities in the United States without any form of curbside recycling.
In 2005, the Detroit Incinerator was the 5th largest stationary source of Nitrogen Oxides, which is a critical component of smog (ground-level ozone). Wayne County is currently in violation of USEPA health standards for smog and soot (particulate matter). Hazardous air pollutants from the facility include mercury, lead and dioxins. Asthma hospitalization rates
in Detroit are 3-4 times the average rate of the state of Michigan. Both smog and soot contribute to and aggravate asthma.
Trash is an inefficient fuel for generating steam and electricity, creating more global warming carbon dioxide per unit of energy than any other fuel. Recycling will create far less pollution, save more energy than the facility produces, and bring the potential for many more jobs in recycling based manufacturing. The current system binds the City
financially and legally to incinerate waste with prohibitive barriers to recycling.
A broad coalition of community organizations- environmental, civil rights, health, labor, faith-based and social service advocates- have proposed a New Business Model for Solid Waste Management in Detroit, which has been endorsed and supported by the Detroit City Council by a 6-2 majority. This plan would implement a curbside recycling pilot program by January 1, 2009 and close the incinerator at the end of its current contracts on June 30, 2009. Closing the facility must include a funded plan to assist every displaced worker in finding a similar job at similar compensation.
The administration of Mayor Kilpatrick has agreed to a smaller pilot curbside recycling program, but appears opposed to ending incineration, which means there will not be significant recycling. The operations of the facility are overseen by the Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Authority (GDRRA). Board members are appointees of the Mayor of Detroit.
Stop Trashing the Climate Incineration Report
From the Ecology Center:
The City of Detroit currently faces a historic deadline of July 1, 2008 to close the largest trash incinerator in the world. The incinerator burns nearly 800,000 tons of trash per year currently at a cost of over $170 per ton to Detroit residents (5-7 times the cost of suburbs that recycle and landfill). Hazardous air pollutants from the facility include mercury, lead and dioxins. Asthma hospitalization rates in Detroit are 3-4 times the average rate of the state of Michigan. In addition to these staggering figures, Detroit is the only city of the 30 largest cities in the United States without any form of curbside recycling.
In 2005, the Detroit Incinerator was the 5th largest stationary source of Nitrogen Oxides, which is a critical component of smog (ground-level ozone). Wayne County is currently in violation of USEPA health standards for smog and soot (particulate matter). Hazardous air pollutants from the facility include mercury, lead and dioxins. Asthma hospitalization rates
in Detroit are 3-4 times the average rate of the state of Michigan. Both smog and soot contribute to and aggravate asthma.
Trash is an inefficient fuel for generating steam and electricity, creating more global warming carbon dioxide per unit of energy than any other fuel. Recycling will create far less pollution, save more energy than the facility produces, and bring the potential for many more jobs in recycling based manufacturing. The current system binds the City
financially and legally to incinerate waste with prohibitive barriers to recycling.
A broad coalition of community organizations- environmental, civil rights, health, labor, faith-based and social service advocates- have proposed a New Business Model for Solid Waste Management in Detroit, which has been endorsed and supported by the Detroit City Council by a 6-2 majority. This plan would implement a curbside recycling pilot program by January 1, 2009 and close the incinerator at the end of its current contracts on June 30, 2009. Closing the facility must include a funded plan to assist every displaced worker in finding a similar job at similar compensation.
The administration of Mayor Kilpatrick has agreed to a smaller pilot curbside recycling program, but appears opposed to ending incineration, which means there will not be significant recycling. The operations of the facility are overseen by the Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Authority (GDRRA). Board members are appointees of the Mayor of Detroit.
Stop Trashing the Climate Incineration Report
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Recent Record Floods Contribute to Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone
A recent updated report is available on the Gulf of Mexico's "dead zone." Every year sewage and fertilizer runoff creates dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico. This year's record flooding is creating a much larger dead zone. The recent updated EPA Science Advisory Board Report aims to limit the mount of fertilizer runoff and urban runoff coming from the Mississippi river.
ENS Story: 2008 Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone Could Be Largest Ever
Farm runoff creates ‘dead zones’ offshore, but no national authority is tasked to address them.
Revised EPA Science Advisory Board Report: Hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Website
ENS Story: 2008 Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone Could Be Largest Ever
Farm runoff creates ‘dead zones’ offshore, but no national authority is tasked to address them.
Revised EPA Science Advisory Board Report: Hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Website
Editorial: Recent Climate Report Predicts More Severe Weather
The U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research released a report yesterday that forecasts more drought, hurricanes and severe weather. One could make an argument that we are already seeing these effects with the recent flooding of Cedar Rapids Iowa as well as the droughts in California, Georgia, and Australia.
What does this mean for the midwest states?
Lake levels are already taking a hit. Though Lake Superior has rebounded to normal levels due to a wet spring Lake Huron and Lake Michigan are down. The lack of winter ice causes more evaporation of the lakes.
But experts are forecasting more severe weather, this sounds like maybe it would help water levels but the major problem with that is the toll it will take on water quality. Every time we get heavy rains the sewer systems get overloaded and it washes large amounts of raw sewage into our waterways. This is where the E.coli comes from and why beaches get closed down. At the very worst these may contribute to large dead zones within the lakes.
The good news is that throughout the region public forums and newspaper editorials are bringing this issue into the consciousness of people. That is the first step, educating the masses and explaining the problem. With bipartisan and public support we can begin to effectively combat these issues and keep our lakes great.
Global Warming Report
Sciencedaily Story: Global Warming Likely to Fuel Severe Weather
Iowa-Like Floods to Increase With Global Warming
What does this mean for the midwest states?
Lake levels are already taking a hit. Though Lake Superior has rebounded to normal levels due to a wet spring Lake Huron and Lake Michigan are down. The lack of winter ice causes more evaporation of the lakes.
But experts are forecasting more severe weather, this sounds like maybe it would help water levels but the major problem with that is the toll it will take on water quality. Every time we get heavy rains the sewer systems get overloaded and it washes large amounts of raw sewage into our waterways. This is where the E.coli comes from and why beaches get closed down. At the very worst these may contribute to large dead zones within the lakes.
The good news is that throughout the region public forums and newspaper editorials are bringing this issue into the consciousness of people. That is the first step, educating the masses and explaining the problem. With bipartisan and public support we can begin to effectively combat these issues and keep our lakes great.
Global Warming Report
Sciencedaily Story: Global Warming Likely to Fuel Severe Weather
Iowa-Like Floods to Increase With Global Warming
Friday, June 20, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Protest Rally: Stop Detroit's Incinerator
Recent Free Press Article: Decision on Incinerator's Future Looms as Other Options Weighed
Please join us to stop another twenty years of health issues and 1.2 billion dollars wasted of taxpayers' money. The protest rally will be healed on Thursday May 29, 4pm to 6pm at the corner of Woodward and Jefferson in front of the Spirit of Detroit statue. Please bring as many people as you can, protest signs, and gas/dust masks.
WHEN: Thursday May 29, 4pm to 6pm
WHERE: Corner of Woodward and Jefferson
WHO: Everyone including the most effected children We want green jobs, clean air and to end this wasteful/unnecessary overspending!
Contact Dan Sordyl 248.890.0729, DanielSordyl@yahoo.com
Something stinks and it's not just the trash!
The lease on the Detroit Incinerator is up for renewal on June 1, 2008. The Detroit City Council has adopted a new plan for trash disposal which includes recycling and shutting down the incinerator. Our Mayor wants to continue using this MONSTER POLLUTING/ASTHMA MACHINE!
We need to act NOW! Call and write to the Detroit City Council and thank them for moving us forward. Call and write the Mayor, ask him to reconsider the health, welfare and finances of Detroit.
-The Detroit incinerator is contributing to the rising dioxin levels, cancer, asthma, and low birth weights in our neighborhoods. The asthma rates for the 9 zip codes around the Incinerator are 4 times higher then the Michigan average. Detroit was just designated the ninth most air polluted city in the country. The Detroit Incinerator is the 6th largest pollution source of over 180 facilities in Wayne County monitored by the state. Wayne County is currently in violation of EPA air quality health standards. The Detroit Incinerator annually emits an estimated 600,000 tons of global warming carbon dioxide. The Detroit Incinerator only burns about 70% of the trash put into it and the resulting highly toxic ash (about 30%) goes to a landfill.
-Our waste is one of the biggest resources for the future. What kind of products could Detroiters produce with the endless supply of this material? Recycling creates 10 times more jobs than incineration. It promotes environmental consciousness and responsibility. Detroit is the only city of the 30 largest cities in the United States that does not provide curbside recycling. By continuing to burn these easily recycle-able items we will never make a full switch to recycling. We are losing the revenue from recycled raw materials. Again, Detroit will be left behind on one of the biggest movements toward a greener economy.
- Detroit Taxpayers have overpaid for trash disposal by an average of about $50 million per year over the last 20 years. In the fiscal year 2007-2008 Detroit residents are paying over $170/ton for trash disposal - about 5 to 7 times more then the suburbs pay. If the Incinerator continues to be used the disposal costs are estimated to be 2 to 3 times higher then what the suburbs will pay. About half of the trash burned in the Detroit Incinerator is from suburban cities, about 50% of the toxic emissions such as lead, mercury and cancer causing dioxins are from suburban trash.
Detroit City Council 2 Woodward Ave(City County Bldg)(313) 224-3266
Council President Ken Cockrel, Jr. 313) 224-4505 CockrelK.CNCL.COUNCIL@kcockrel.ci.detroit.mi.us
Council President Pro-tem Monica Conyers(313) 224-4530 ConyersM@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us
Councilwoman JoAnn Watson(313) 224-4535 WatsonJ_mb@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us
Councilwoman Sheila Cockrel(313) 224-1337 S-Cockrel_mb@ckrl.ci.detroit.mi.us
Councilwoman Barbara-Rose Collins(313) 224-1298 Collins_MB@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us
Councilman Kwame Kenyatta(313) 224-1198 K-Kenyatta_MB@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us
Councilwoman Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (313) 224-1645 A_Talabi_mb@atwpo.ci.detroit.mi.us
Councilwoman Martha Reeves(313) 224-4510 m-reeves_mb@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us
Councilwoman Brenda Jones(313) 224-1245 Bjones_MB@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us
Please join us to stop another twenty years of health issues and 1.2 billion dollars wasted of taxpayers' money. The protest rally will be healed on Thursday May 29, 4pm to 6pm at the corner of Woodward and Jefferson in front of the Spirit of Detroit statue. Please bring as many people as you can, protest signs, and gas/dust masks.
WHEN: Thursday May 29, 4pm to 6pm
WHERE: Corner of Woodward and Jefferson
WHO: Everyone including the most effected children We want green jobs, clean air and to end this wasteful/unnecessary overspending!
Contact Dan Sordyl 248.890.0729, DanielSordyl@yahoo.com
Something stinks and it's not just the trash!
The lease on the Detroit Incinerator is up for renewal on June 1, 2008. The Detroit City Council has adopted a new plan for trash disposal which includes recycling and shutting down the incinerator. Our Mayor wants to continue using this MONSTER POLLUTING/ASTHMA MACHINE!
We need to act NOW! Call and write to the Detroit City Council and thank them for moving us forward. Call and write the Mayor, ask him to reconsider the health, welfare and finances of Detroit.
-The Detroit incinerator is contributing to the rising dioxin levels, cancer, asthma, and low birth weights in our neighborhoods. The asthma rates for the 9 zip codes around the Incinerator are 4 times higher then the Michigan average. Detroit was just designated the ninth most air polluted city in the country. The Detroit Incinerator is the 6th largest pollution source of over 180 facilities in Wayne County monitored by the state. Wayne County is currently in violation of EPA air quality health standards. The Detroit Incinerator annually emits an estimated 600,000 tons of global warming carbon dioxide. The Detroit Incinerator only burns about 70% of the trash put into it and the resulting highly toxic ash (about 30%) goes to a landfill.
-Our waste is one of the biggest resources for the future. What kind of products could Detroiters produce with the endless supply of this material? Recycling creates 10 times more jobs than incineration. It promotes environmental consciousness and responsibility. Detroit is the only city of the 30 largest cities in the United States that does not provide curbside recycling. By continuing to burn these easily recycle-able items we will never make a full switch to recycling. We are losing the revenue from recycled raw materials. Again, Detroit will be left behind on one of the biggest movements toward a greener economy.
- Detroit Taxpayers have overpaid for trash disposal by an average of about $50 million per year over the last 20 years. In the fiscal year 2007-2008 Detroit residents are paying over $170/ton for trash disposal - about 5 to 7 times more then the suburbs pay. If the Incinerator continues to be used the disposal costs are estimated to be 2 to 3 times higher then what the suburbs will pay. About half of the trash burned in the Detroit Incinerator is from suburban cities, about 50% of the toxic emissions such as lead, mercury and cancer causing dioxins are from suburban trash.
Detroit City Council 2 Woodward Ave(City County Bldg)(313) 224-3266
Council President Ken Cockrel, Jr. 313) 224-4505 CockrelK.CNCL.COUNCIL@kcockrel.ci.detroit.mi.us
Council President Pro-tem Monica Conyers(313) 224-4530 ConyersM@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us
Councilwoman JoAnn Watson(313) 224-4535 WatsonJ_mb@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us
Councilwoman Sheila Cockrel(313) 224-1337 S-Cockrel_mb@ckrl.ci.detroit.mi.us
Councilwoman Barbara-Rose Collins(313) 224-1298 Collins_MB@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us
Councilman Kwame Kenyatta(313) 224-1198 K-Kenyatta_MB@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us
Councilwoman Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (313) 224-1645 A_Talabi_mb@atwpo.ci.detroit.mi.us
Councilwoman Martha Reeves(313) 224-4510 m-reeves_mb@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us
Councilwoman Brenda Jones(313) 224-1245 Bjones_MB@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us
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