ROSSLAND , British Columbia - July 27, 2011 - Prevent Cancer Now, a national organization focused on eliminating the preventable causes of cancer, decries the Ministry of the Environment's approval of Metro Vancouver’s Solid Waste Management plan on July 25th. Metro Vancouver’s controversial waste plan contemplates an “in region” or “out of region” incinerator.

“I’m very concerned about the links between burning garbage and cancer, and hope Minister Terry Lake will consider the evidence before allowing Metro Vancouver’s plan to proceed,” says Diana Daghofer, Co-Chair of Prevent Cancer Now (PCN).

Incinerators emit hundreds of pollutants and some of these contaminants are known to pose serious health risks, including cancer. In 2008 Prevent Cancer Now developed a tool kit that identifies the range of health risks that arise from burning garbage . The organization promotes less risky, sustainable alternatives such as Zero Waste strategies tailored to suit the needs of communities.

Forty-seven physicians in Clarington, east of Toronto, unanimously approved a letter to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment condemning the planned construction of the Durham-York incinerator in Clarington. The letter has also been endorsed by groups such as the Nurse Practitioners Association of Ontario. http://www.durhamregion.com/news/clarington/article/180053

“If Metro Vancouver proceeds with their plan to incinerate garbage, B.C. residents have every reason to be very concerned about air quality in their communities and the health of their families” says Dave Renaud, PCN Board member and President of the CAW Durham Region Environment Council.

Environmental Assessment (EA) and the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) applications confirmed that the Durham-York incinerator would emit many tonnes of particulate matter, heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants including dioxins -a carcinogen- and respiratory irritants. EA studies also confirmed that the current air quality in the area of the proposed site in Courtice, in the Municipality of Clarington, is already poor.

“In addition to the significant health risks, incineration is a risky, inefficient and very expensive disposal option”, says Linda Gasser, PCN’s Incineration Campaign Coordinator. “When you burn, you still need a landfill for ash residues and waste that can’t be burned” says Gasser. Fly ash is considered hazardous waste in many jurisdictions and bottom ash is laced with toxic residues.

Covanta Energy has expressed an interest in barging 500,000 tonnes of Metro Vancouver's garbage every year to be burned at a facility in Gold River in the north west of Vancouver Island.

According to a fact sheet the Utility Workers Union of America, Covanta has a history of exceeding emissions limits at incinerators they operate in the U.S.. Covanta has also been cited for failure to report air quality violations as well as labour standards violations.

Diana Daghofer
Co-Chair, Prevent Cancer Now
www.preventcancernow.ca

Dave Renaud
PCN Board member and President of the CAW Durham Regional Environment Council.

Please direct media inquiries to:

Linda Gasser
Incineration Campaign Coordinator
Prevent Cancer Now
Telephone: (905) 665-5789
E-mail: gasserlinda@gmail.com

And/or

Ben West
Healthy Communities Campaigner
Wilderness Committee
Telephone: (604) 710-5340
Email: ben@wildernesscommittee.org

Prevent Cancer Now’s Incineration Tool Kit:
http://preventcancernow.ca/main/issues-actions/stop-incineration

B.C. MoE July 25, 2011 media release:
http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2009-2013/2011ENV0044-000925.h…

Metro Vancouver Solid Waste Plan at:
http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/solidwaste/planning/Pages/defaul…