Dear Editor:
Contrary to letter writer Ben West's claim (Incinerator Critic Not Alone, Aug. 26, North Shore News), my previous letter on energy from waste plants did not attack opponents of EFW, but rather presented a set of facts usually ignored by those critics. In his letter, Mr. West ignores the fact that the alternative to EFW, landfill, is accepted by science-and engineering-based review as worse, environmentally.
Unfortunately, the nirvana of 100 per cent reuse and recycling is not going to happen, so I suggest Mr. West honestly compare landfill to EFW.
Yes, Mr. West is right that EFW produces dioxins, but he doesn't tell you the amounts it produces are well within environmental regulations, and he doesn't tell you that barbecues and a fireworks shows also produce these - in the latter case in large amounts. It's all about the dose.
John Hunter North Vancouver
