Maryland
Stop the Incinerator!
Although no new incinerators have been built in the U.S. for 12 years, Frederick County Commissioners are considering building one at an estimated cost of $350 million to taxpayers.
The facts are:
- Incinerators transform garbage into harmful air pollutants and toxic ash. For example, burning plastic bags and organic materials creates dioxins, which even in small amounts cause cancer, immune disorders and reproductive problems.
- The 1,500 per-ton-day incinerator would generate 450 tons of toxic ash to be dumped at a landfill, eventually leaching into ground water.
- Frederick's population would have to literally double to reach the 900 tons of waste required to operate at the proposed incinerator's capacity. This likely means that Frederick County will need to import trash from other counties or states.
- Incinerators emit more carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour than coal-fired power plants. Those and other air pollutants then fall on parks and playing fields, farm crops and dairy pastures, working their way into the food chain.
- Frederick residents must call on County Commissioners to institute a 5 year moratorium on the construction of any incinerator to study alternative solutions like a Resource Recovery Park for waste diversion and recycling
Get a factsheet on the incinerator (pdf, 31 kb)
What you can do: Write your County Commissioners today!
Sample Letter
[Date]
Commissioner [name]
Winchester Hall
12 E. Church Street
Frederick, MD 21701Dear Commissioner [name],
I urge you to support a 5 year moratorium on the construction of any incinerator to study alternative solutions such as a Resource Recovery Park for waste diversion and recycling.
In addition, Frederick County needs to join Carroll County in assessing the potential health and economic risks of using incineration to address our waste management needs.
I'm counting on you to protect the health and environment of Frederick County.
Sincerely,
Sign your name and include your address, requesting a response.
Because of the At-Large nature of the Commissioners' seats, you may write to any or all of the Commissioners in the county about this issue. The Commissioners are:
- David Gray
- Jan Gardner
- Kai Hagen
- John Thompson Jr.
- Charles Jenkins
Global Warming Solutions Act
On March 22, the State Senate voted 31-16 to pass SB 309, the Global Warming Solutions Act. The bill now goes to the House of Delegates where it will be considered by the Economic Matters and Environmental Matters Committees in the coming days.
The bill passed with a weakening amendment that would require additional legislative approval before state agencies began to implement measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Clean Water Action and allies are now seeking to work with members of the House of Delegates to pass a version of the bill without the weakening amendment, and to send a strong bill to the Governor that will allow Maryland agencies to act swiftly to address the climate change crisis.
Healthy Air Act Signed Into Law After Two-Year Campaign
On Thursday, April 6, Governor Robert Ehrlich signed the Healthy Air Act (HAA) into law, capping a two-year campaign for reduction of emissions of four major pollutants from Maryland's dirtiest power plants. The new law is the strongest piece of enacted legislation in the United States to address nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), mercury and carbon dioxide (CO2).
The law also requires Maryland to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI, pronounced "Reggie"), a multi-state effort to reduce "greenhouse gases" such as carbon dioxide. The New York Times noted that "Maryland is more reliant on coal-fired power plants than are the other states in the regional pact, and the enactment of such tough pollution control legislation there is considered a major environmental victory."
Maryland is:
- the 1st state, that receives a majority of its electricity from coal, to commit to carbon dioxide reductions from plants statewide.
- the 7th state to formally reject the flawed federal toxics trading regulation by adopting more stringent pollution limits that must be met via pollution reduction at each facility.
- the 1st state in the country to adopt four-pollutant legislation.
Governor Ehrlich's proposed "Clean Power Rule" was evidence of his recognition that Maryland had to speed up the cleanup of its dirtiest power plants, and to reach higher goals through clean-up of plants here in Maryland, rather than through the purchase of extra emission allowances from out-of-state facilities. The Healthy Air Act is stronger than the proposed Clean Power Rule, though, in several ways. Perhaps most importantly, the Healthy Air Act places emission limits directly into the law, rather than adopting them by rule that could be weakened by administrative action.
The HAA will permanently prevent more than 1700 lbs. of toxic mercury from being released into Maryland's environment every year (by requiring an 80% capture rate in 2010 and 90% capture rate in 2013 at every facility). The HAA also requires Maryland to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a consortium of eastern states committed to mandatory CO2 reductions from power plants. Maryland will be the first RGGI state that receives a majority of its electricity from coal to commit to CO2 reductions from electricity-generating units (EGU's) statewide, and could encourage neighboring Pennsylvania, the last uncommitted state in the region, to join as well.
Clean Water staff thanks Clean Water Action's Maryland members, who sent 3,779 letters and made over 400 calls to the Governor and state legislators during the course of this year's campaign. That sort of broad-based grassroots support for cleaning up Maryland's power plants made the difference in a campaign where the energy industry went all-out to defeat the bill.
This year's election campaigns will provide a good opportunity to thank and hold accountable incumbent state senators and delegates for their votes for the Healthy Air Act. Ask incumbents about their votes on the issue, and ask all candidates what they will do, if elected, to build on this year's major environmental victory to continue to restore and protect Maryland's air and water.
Water Conservation Tips
Protect the Environment and Save Money!
Brushing Teeth/Washing Hands: Shut off the faucet while brushing teeth, lathering hands or shaving until it is time to rinse.
Showers: Hardware stores sell inexpensive showerheads that reduce water-flow. Look for one with a button that allows you to turn off the water (without adjusting temperature) so that you can turn off the water while not using it (lathering or rinsing).
Toilet Tanks: If you don't have an efficient toilet (1 gallon per flush) fill a liter jug with water and some rocks (so it won't float) and place the jug in the toilet's tank to reduce water use.
Car Washing: If using commercial car washes, choose facilities which recycle their water. When washing at home, use a bucket and hose down when finished. Some people can wash a car while using only one bucket of water. How close can you come to one bucket?
Lawns: When watering your lawn, water after 6 p.m. to reduce evaporation.
Laundry: Use the minimum setting for the size of the load and only wash full loads.
Dishwashing: Only run the dishwasher when full. Do not run water while hand washing dishes. With a full stack to wash and a double sink, fill one side with soapy water and the other with rinse water. If a single sink, fill with soapy water, wash dishes, set to side on rack or towel, drain sink, fill with as little rinse water as needed.
Restaurants: If you own a restaurant, ask your customers before filling water glasses for their tables.
