Protesters fight against a dirty incinerator in Baltimore, Maryland.
(Photo: Free Your Voice Group / Facebook)
Oct 21, 2015
Having scored one big victory for jobs and the environment, a group of Baltimore activists is trying to take things to the next level. Curtis Bay, their heavily polluted Baltimore neighborhood, had been bracing for a $1 billion garbage incinerator that would have lowered Maryland's already poor air quality.
Energy Answers, the company that won approval six years ago to build this boondoggle, tried to greenwash the burner, falsely claiming that it would generate "clean" power. However, the incinerator would have emitted dangerous levels of mercury, lead, dioxins, and other substances linked to neurological problems, cancer, and asthma—all within a mile of local schools.
That's why a youth-led organization, Free Your Voice, joined with environmental groups in a campaign against the incinerator in favor of real solutions for dignified jobs and authentically green initiatives. Free Your Voice grew out of a human rights group called United Workers, founded in 2002 by homeless day laborers.
Earlier this year, community groups persuaded local school systems, the Baltimore City government, and 19 other key institutions to cancel their plans to purchase electricity from the dirty burner. That dealt a crippling blow to the incinerator. Baltimore will be better off without it.
Burning trash is hazardous to any community's economy, environment, and public health, so I've been joining community groups to fight incinerators my entire adult life -- from this country to South Africa, India, and the Philippines.
Still, the Maryland Department of the Environment hasn't yet declared the project dead -- even though Energy Answers has failed to do anything on the land for more than 18 months, violating its permit's terms. Free Your Voice is now calling upon the environmental agency to cancel the company's permit officially.
While Energy Answers holds the 97-acre site hostage, people from the emboldened Curtis Bay community are coming up with their own solutions. Among the ideas that Free Your Voice and its allies are proposing are a community-owned solar farm and an eco-industrial park that would host recycling, reuse, and composting companies. Recycling is better for the environment than burning trash, and our discarded possessions and it creates 10 to 20 times more jobs per ton of material processed.
Nationally, most of our trash ends up in landfills that leach toxins into the soil and water, or goes into incinerators that release toxic fumes -- often in inner-city neighborhoods. The result is an assault on public health, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and a tremendous waste of materials that could have been reused.
Just imagine what would happen if the Baltimore story were repeated nationwide. According to a Tellus Institute study, the United States could create over a million jobs by 2030 by transforming how we manage our waste.
Instead of destroying resources in incinerators and landfills, we could conserve them through recycling and composting. Many of the industry's jobs could shift from large private corporations to municipal unions. This transformation would aid the environment, public health, equity, and racial justice all in one shot.
When the people of Baltimore got organized, they won the incinerator fight. Now, they're building bridges between movements that too often are pitted against one another, particularly workers and environmentalists. It's an inspiration to other groups to do the same thing across Maryland and the whole country.
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
This column was distributed by OtherWords.
Annie Leonard
Annie Leonard is the executive director of Greenpeace USA, founder of the Story of Stuff Project, and has spent more than twenty years investigating and organizing on environmental health and justice issues. She is the author of "The Story of Stuff."
asthmabaltimorecancerenvironmentgreenhouse gas emissionsgreenpeaceincineratorsmarylandpeople powerracial justice
Having scored one big victory for jobs and the environment, a group of Baltimore activists is trying to take things to the next level. Curtis Bay, their heavily polluted Baltimore neighborhood, had been bracing for a $1 billion garbage incinerator that would have lowered Maryland's already poor air quality.
Energy Answers, the company that won approval six years ago to build this boondoggle, tried to greenwash the burner, falsely claiming that it would generate "clean" power. However, the incinerator would have emitted dangerous levels of mercury, lead, dioxins, and other substances linked to neurological problems, cancer, and asthma—all within a mile of local schools.
That's why a youth-led organization, Free Your Voice, joined with environmental groups in a campaign against the incinerator in favor of real solutions for dignified jobs and authentically green initiatives. Free Your Voice grew out of a human rights group called United Workers, founded in 2002 by homeless day laborers.
Earlier this year, community groups persuaded local school systems, the Baltimore City government, and 19 other key institutions to cancel their plans to purchase electricity from the dirty burner. That dealt a crippling blow to the incinerator. Baltimore will be better off without it.
Burning trash is hazardous to any community's economy, environment, and public health, so I've been joining community groups to fight incinerators my entire adult life -- from this country to South Africa, India, and the Philippines.
Still, the Maryland Department of the Environment hasn't yet declared the project dead -- even though Energy Answers has failed to do anything on the land for more than 18 months, violating its permit's terms. Free Your Voice is now calling upon the environmental agency to cancel the company's permit officially.
While Energy Answers holds the 97-acre site hostage, people from the emboldened Curtis Bay community are coming up with their own solutions. Among the ideas that Free Your Voice and its allies are proposing are a community-owned solar farm and an eco-industrial park that would host recycling, reuse, and composting companies. Recycling is better for the environment than burning trash, and our discarded possessions and it creates 10 to 20 times more jobs per ton of material processed.
Nationally, most of our trash ends up in landfills that leach toxins into the soil and water, or goes into incinerators that release toxic fumes -- often in inner-city neighborhoods. The result is an assault on public health, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and a tremendous waste of materials that could have been reused.
Just imagine what would happen if the Baltimore story were repeated nationwide. According to a Tellus Institute study, the United States could create over a million jobs by 2030 by transforming how we manage our waste.
Instead of destroying resources in incinerators and landfills, we could conserve them through recycling and composting. Many of the industry's jobs could shift from large private corporations to municipal unions. This transformation would aid the environment, public health, equity, and racial justice all in one shot.
When the people of Baltimore got organized, they won the incinerator fight. Now, they're building bridges between movements that too often are pitted against one another, particularly workers and environmentalists. It's an inspiration to other groups to do the same thing across Maryland and the whole country.
Annie Leonard
Annie Leonard is the executive director of Greenpeace USA, founder of the Story of Stuff Project, and has spent more than twenty years investigating and organizing on environmental health and justice issues. She is the author of "The Story of Stuff."
Having scored one big victory for jobs and the environment, a group of Baltimore activists is trying to take things to the next level. Curtis Bay, their heavily polluted Baltimore neighborhood, had been bracing for a $1 billion garbage incinerator that would have lowered Maryland's already poor air quality.
Energy Answers, the company that won approval six years ago to build this boondoggle, tried to greenwash the burner, falsely claiming that it would generate "clean" power. However, the incinerator would have emitted dangerous levels of mercury, lead, dioxins, and other substances linked to neurological problems, cancer, and asthma—all within a mile of local schools.
That's why a youth-led organization, Free Your Voice, joined with environmental groups in a campaign against the incinerator in favor of real solutions for dignified jobs and authentically green initiatives. Free Your Voice grew out of a human rights group called United Workers, founded in 2002 by homeless day laborers.
Earlier this year, community groups persuaded local school systems, the Baltimore City government, and 19 other key institutions to cancel their plans to purchase electricity from the dirty burner. That dealt a crippling blow to the incinerator. Baltimore will be better off without it.
Burning trash is hazardous to any community's economy, environment, and public health, so I've been joining community groups to fight incinerators my entire adult life -- from this country to South Africa, India, and the Philippines.
Still, the Maryland Department of the Environment hasn't yet declared the project dead -- even though Energy Answers has failed to do anything on the land for more than 18 months, violating its permit's terms. Free Your Voice is now calling upon the environmental agency to cancel the company's permit officially.
While Energy Answers holds the 97-acre site hostage, people from the emboldened Curtis Bay community are coming up with their own solutions. Among the ideas that Free Your Voice and its allies are proposing are a community-owned solar farm and an eco-industrial park that would host recycling, reuse, and composting companies. Recycling is better for the environment than burning trash, and our discarded possessions and it creates 10 to 20 times more jobs per ton of material processed.
Nationally, most of our trash ends up in landfills that leach toxins into the soil and water, or goes into incinerators that release toxic fumes -- often in inner-city neighborhoods. The result is an assault on public health, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and a tremendous waste of materials that could have been reused.
Just imagine what would happen if the Baltimore story were repeated nationwide. According to a Tellus Institute study, the United States could create over a million jobs by 2030 by transforming how we manage our waste.
Instead of destroying resources in incinerators and landfills, we could conserve them through recycling and composting. Many of the industry's jobs could shift from large private corporations to municipal unions. This transformation would aid the environment, public health, equity, and racial justice all in one shot.
When the people of Baltimore got organized, they won the incinerator fight. Now, they're building bridges between movements that too often are pitted against one another, particularly workers and environmentalists. It's an inspiration to other groups to do the same thing across Maryland and the whole country.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.