Outrage at Council’s reversal on New Business Model for Solid Waste and Ending of Incineration

For Immediate Release Detroit, MI — During the mayoral campaign, Mayor Dave Bing stated that he supports an end to incineration of Detroit’s trash, “The City cannot sell what it burns,” in his support for the New Business Model for Detroit Solid Waste. Mayor Bing’s immediate action on the proposed City Budget is crucial to ending incineration of Detroit trash and expanding the business opportunities based on materials recovery. Yesterday the City Council reversed itself and voted against Councilwoman JoAnn Watson’s resolution for City budget amendments to further advance the economic development and jobs that are the core of the New Business Model, and end incineration. Council’s action provides $24M to continue burning of city garbage, which is $1.7M more than the combination of recycling and landfilling proposed by the Coalition for a New Business Model. Council President Pro-tem Monica Conyers alone supported Ms. Watson’s resolution. Sandra Turner Handy, Michigan Environmental Council, had this reaction: “Shame, shame, shame, on City Council that they would subject the citizens to the continuous air pollution emitted by the incinerator, especially after voting to end incineration of Detroit trash last year. It clearly shows that the best interest and health of the residents are not their concern nor their priority. They voted against the creation of job opportunities that are linked to recycling.” Donele Wilkins, Executive Director, Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice, expressed it this way. “I am sadly disappointed in the City Council’s reversal on the New Business Model for Solid Waste. It feels like a betrayal. They turned their backs on an opportunity for the City to move in a new direction. This decision by Council shows they are blind to the great potential of the New Green future for Detroit.” The New Business Model for Solid Waste moves the City away from incineration into the green opportunities from waste reuse, reduction and recycling. As the City says in promoting the Pilot Curbside Recycling program, “Recycling saves natural resources, energy, landfill space and money, and creates less air and water pollution.” The Coalition for a New Business Model for Detroit Solid Waste is a group of community and environmental groups: Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice, Detroit Bioneers, Ecology Center, Rosedale Recycles, Michigan Environmental Council, MOSES (Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength), Sierra Club, Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision, East Michigan Environmental Action Council, Greenacres Woodward Civic Association, and Environmental Justice Initiative.