The Fraser Valley has launched a public campaign against the construction of a new garbage incinerator on the Lower Mainland. Proponents of garbage incinerators, which burn so hot that most pollutants are destroyed, are convinced they’re safe.
But the district of the Fraser Valley has already created a television ad with provocative imagery trying to counteract that message.
“So we’re asking them to not have one more source of pollution into our air shed.”
The “one more source of pollution” the Chilliwack mayor is referring to is the proposed waste to energy facility metro Vancouver wants to build to augment the Burnaby incinerator.
In order to get people to sit and notice their pollution issue, Fraser Valley politicians have launched a TV and internet campaign to get voters to pay attention to something which some feel has long term negative effects.
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“You have kids with masks, kids with inhalers. We’re damaging future generations… I’m sorry I don’t agree with it,” Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie told Global News. “It’s probably good politics but I don’t agree with it and if I did agree with it, I would have nothing to do with it.”
Gaetz says they’ve heard from the World Health Organization that air pollution is a contributor to cancer and early death, which is something the district was very alarmed at learning.
This isn’t a new process Vancouver is incorporating, waste to energy has been done in other cities showing emissions have fallen as technology improves.
However, that is not to say there aren’t pollutants as a result of incineration or the other possible technologies but according to politicians in metro Vancouver the alternatives are worse.
“Land filling is toxic and so you’re really left with various forms of waste energy,” Brodie said.
But for the communities in the Fraser Valley, it’s about being heard.
The provincial government has already approved the plan and there is a shortlist of four locations for proposed waste to energy facility. A final decision is expected in the spring.
Any decisions will have to go through a provincial environmental review.
~ with files from Aaron McArthur
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