The Cost Of Plastic Incineration: Expensive And Environmentally Damaging

Incinerating plastic is an expensive process, costing $250 to burn one tonne of waste at the incineration facility in Burnaby, B.C. The cost of building, managing and operating an incinerator is also significantly high, with incineration facilities requiring expensive power generators that cost millions to build and operate. Incineration is also unsustainable, as 99% of plastics are made from fossil fuels, and it produces more greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy produced than any other form of energy production.

Incineration is an expensive waste management system

On top of the financial cost, incineration contributes to more pollution, through air emissions. Plastics, in particular, when burned, release pollutants such as dioxins and heavy metals. These air pollutants pose a health risk to communities located near plastic waste incinerators. A recent study found that in the U.S., about 80 per cent of incinerators can be found near low-income communities.

Incineration facilities are expensive and the public will be the ones stuck with the bill. Waste management is an expensive business. Waste collection alone comes at a high price which is covered through the taxes we pay. Incineration also produces more greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy produced than any other form of energy production. Along with greenhouse gases, incineration also generates toxic emissions that include dioxins, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and other acidic gases (SOx, HCl), metals (cadmium, lead).

Burning plastic is unsustainable

In addition, incineration facilities require a continuous supply of waste to keep running, making it a more demanding waste management system overall. This means that the energy produced from these facilities is the most expensive of all energy sources. For example, in June 2019, it cost $250 to burn one tonne of waste at the incineration facility in Burnaby, BC, Canada. That’s $375,000 of taxpayers’ money!

Burning plastic is as unsustainable as burning any other fossil fuel, as 99% of plastics are made from fossil fuels.

Incineration facilities require expensive power generators

In addition, incineration facilities contribute to pollution through air emissions. Plastics, in particular, when burned, release pollutants such as dioxins and heavy metals. These air pollutants pose a health risk to communities located near plastic waste incinerators. Incineration also produces more greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy produced than any other form of energy production. For every tonne of plastic burned, as much as three tonnes of CO2 are released into the atmosphere.

Incineration contributes to air pollution

Incineration is an expensive waste management system. In 2019, it cost $250 to burn one tonne of waste at an incineration facility in Burnaby, B.C. The cost of building, managing and operating an incinerator is also significantly high. Incineration facilities require expensive power generators that cost millions to build and operate.

Plastics are made from fossil fuels, and for every tonne of plastic burned, as much as three tonnes of CO2 are released into the atmosphere. Incineration produces more greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy produced than any other form of energy production. Incineration also generates toxic emissions that include dioxins, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and other acidic gases (SOx, HCl), and metals (cadmium, lead, etc).

Research on the direct health impacts of waste incineration in the United States is limited, but studies from Asia and Europe, where waste incinerators are prevalent, offer some insights. It is important to assess incinerator emissions in the context of the total ambient concentration of pollutants in an area. In areas where the ambient concentrations are already close to or above environmental guidelines or standards, even relatively small increments can be important.

Incineration produces toxic emissions

The cost of incineration is not limited to money. Burning plastic contributes to air pollution and poses a health risk to communities located near incinerators. A recent study found that in the US, about 80% of incinerators are located near low-income communities. Incineration is an unsustainable practice, as 99% of plastics are made from fossil fuels, making burning plastic as unsustainable as burning any other fossil fuel.

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