Local environmentalists are speaking out against a Metro Vancouver proposal to build waste-to-energy incinerators, arguing the incinerators will increase air pollution in the Fraser Valley, among other concerns.

Metro Vancouver is looking at building waste-to-energy incinerators as part of a plan to approach zero waste production in the future.

"We don't want to add any more pollution to the Fraser Valley. It's very vulnerable," said Maple Ridge councillor Craig Speirs. "Air pollution funnels up the valley. The philosophy out of Metro used to be of constant improvement. Why all of the sudden are they turning their backs on it? Just because we've made improvements in our airshed doesn't mean we have licence to put more (pollution) in."

Kim Day, executive director of the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society, said the society also opposes using incinerators.

"Ridge Meadows Recycling Society believes a comprehensive plan comprised of four components: reducing, reusing, recycling and composting, is the only true way to achieve zero waste," said Day.

Speirs is concerned that once the incinerators are built it could be a disincentive to stop generating waste.

"It builds in a certain level of waste just to feed it," said Speirs of incinerators.

"The Swedish experience, Sweden is not importing garbage to feed their incinerators."

Speirs and Day also both say Metro Vancouver should exercise the "precautionary principle" and not move ahead with incinerators.

Speirs said he'd prefer to see Metro Vancouver figure out a way to extend the life of the Cache Creek landfill.

Bill Morrell, communications officer for Metro Vancouver, an incinerator would increase air pollution by "less than one per cent of the contaminant load in the Fraser Valley."

Morrell said current waste management practices also create air pollution because, for example, trucks have to drive waste to landfills.

"No waste management activity is free of any kind of impact on air quality," said Morrell.

He added that the incinerators Metro Vancouver is looking at "highly controlled and they have these very comprehensive pollution control mechanisms in them."

Speirs is skeptical of the prediction that incinerators would increase air pollution by one per cent in the Fraser Valley.

"They can talk all they want to about zero emissions. It's just not possible," he said. "The technology is very complex and prone to break down. They're also not counting the ramp up and ramp down for incinerators which is really a very dirty affair."

Morrell also pointed out that landfills spew methane into the atmosphere, which is a potent greenhouse gas. Reducing landfill use would reduce methane production, he said

Speirs said methane emissions could be better controlled through new technology.

"There's more and more information coming out that says landfilling is preferable environmentally by a tonne and it's cheaper," said Speirs. "In Europe they're turning their backs on incinerators."

Morrell said even if Metro Vancouver achieves its 70 per cent waste diversion target by 2015 there would still be one million tonnes of waste being produced.

"That has to be disposed of," he said.

Morrell said even with an "aggressive" waste reduction and reuse program there would still be waste generated without an incinerator.

Morrell said a consultant hired by Metro Vancouver recommended incinerators after doing a "very detailed analysis that looked at eight different scenarios."

"They ultimately came to the conclusion that waste-to-energy with district heating and electricity production was the most effective means of dealing with the residuals that we can't divert from the process," said Morrell.

Waste-to-energy incinerators would also become a "revenue generator" because they could sell power and electricity to businesses, he said.

Speirs said effective recycling and reusing saves power, which then means more power doesn't have to be generated.

"They want to burn wood, plastic and paper because it's the most energy rich," said Speirs of the incinerator. "The stuff that we can recycle easiest. It makes no sense.

He predicted that no community would want to accept an incinerator in their backyard.

"The Swedish experience, Sweden is not importing garbage to feed their incinerators."

Speirs and Day also both say Metro Vancouver should exercise the "precautionary principle" and not move ahead with incinerators.

Speirs said he'd prefer to see Metro Vancouver figure out a way to extend the life of the Cache Creek landfill.

Bill Morrell, communications officer for Metro Vancouver, an incinerator would increase air pollution by "less than one per cent of the contaminant load in the Fraser Valley."

Morrell said current waste management practices also create air pollution because, for example, trucks have to drive waste to landfills.

"No waste management activity is free of any kind of impact on air quality," said Morrell.

He added that the incinerators Metro Vancouver is looking at highly controlled and they have these very comprehensive pollution control mechanisms in them."

Speirs is skeptical of the prediction that incinerators would increase air pollution by one per cent in the Fraser Valley.

"They can talk all they want to about zero emissions. It's just not possible," he said. "The technology is very complex and prone to break down. They're also not counting the ramp up and ramp down for incinerators which is really a very dirty affair."

Morrell also pointed out that landfills spew methane into the atmosphere, which is a potent greenhouse gas. Reducing landfill use would reduce methane production, he said.

Speirs said methane emissions could be better controlled through new technology.

"There's more and more information coming out that says landfilling is preferable environmentally by a tonne and it's cheaper," said Speirs. "In Europe they're turning their backs on incinerators."

Morrell said even if Metro Vancouver achieves its 70 per cent waste diversion target by 2015 there would still be one million tonnes of waste being produced.

"That has to be disposed of," he said. Morrell said even with an "aggressive" waste reduction and reuse program there would still be waste generated without an incinerator.

Morrell said a consultant hired by Metro Vancouver recommended incinerators after doing a "very detailed analysis that looked at eight different scenarios."

"They ultimately came to the conclusion that waste-to-energy with district heating and electricity production was the most effective means of dealing with the residuals that we can't divert from the process," said Morrell.

Waste-to-energy incinerators would also become a "revenue generator" because they could sell power and electricity to businesses, he said.

Speirs said effective recycling and reusing saves power, which then means more power doesn't have to be generated.

"They want to burn wood, plastic and paper because it's the most energy rich," said Speirs of the incinerator. "The stuff that we can recycle easiest." It makes no sense.

He predicted that no community would want to accept an incinerator in their backyard.