Incinerator Information

Currently, organic waste, notably food waste, goes to incinerators when it could be used to replenish local soil. 

In 1985, the Wheelabrator Baltimore incinerator began operating in the South of Baltimore [1]. This waste-to-energy incinerator was implemented as an "environmentally conscious" alternative to existing waste streams, specifically landfills [1]. As opposed to letting waste break down in municipal landfills, which leads to the release of harmful gases, toxins, and leachate, incinerators take advantage of the rising consumption in America to produce renewable energy [1].

Since then, the Wheelabrator incinerator has become a landmark to the many residents and commuters that pass by on the I-95. Converting up to 2,250 tons of processed waste a day, it creates enough energy to save over 180,000 tons of coal power annually [1]. Although these results sound promising, the full picture is a bit more complex.

The plant has been surrounded by controversy since its inception. Researched metrics, such as nitrogen oxide and other particulate matter being released, have revealed the dirtier side of burning trash [2]. According to a report by the Tishman Environment and Design Center at the New School, Wheelabrator is one of the highest producers of lead among the country's incinerators, and the Clean Air Baltimore campaign concluded it is responsible for over a third of Baltimore’s air pollution [3]. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation reports that of the 5.5 people who die from long-term exposure to incinerators every year, two of those people are from Maryland [2]. The risks associated with these emissions, including increased chance of cardiac and respiratory disease, have led to $55 million in health problems annually according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation [2]. 

Beyond this, the facility has been the subject of several lawsuits and protests from local residents and environmental organizations, who claim that it disproportionately affects low-income, disadvantaged, and minority communities in the surrounding areas [2,3].