The Lunz Group Representing Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton and Dorchester Counties in South Carolina

 Click the red headline below to download a PDF with details

The Charleston County Incinerator

  Check out this City Paper Article about the Incinerator

Long range plans are currently being considered by Charleston County that will affect whether garbage gets recycled, incinerated or landfilled. The County Council is on the verge of renewing a twenty year contract to continue burning a majority of the county’s waste at the incinerator located on Spruill Ave in Charleston neck area. The Lunz Group of the Sierra Club objects to these plans both on public health grounds and because of the missed opportunity to expand recycling as an alternative. Trash incineration is a major source of air pollutants such as mercury, dioxin and particulate matter that contribute to health issues ranging from asthma to birth defects and immune system deficiencies.

There is an alternative.

The $200 million the county would spend to create the above health problems could instead be invested into creating a comprehensive, forward looking recycling and integrated waste management plan that diverts trash from the landfill and incinerator. Communities around the country have shown that it is possible to divert 50, 60 and even 70% of their garbage through recycling, composting and waste reduction practices. Investing in recycling could save the county money in the long run while conserving resources and reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases. Aggressive recycling is not possible, however, if the incinerator contract goes through. With contractual obligations stipulating a minimum amount of garbage to be incinerated, the county could face penalties if it aggressively recycled. The Council has recently shown encouraging signs that it will consider greater recycling. A “green ribbon” committee has been proposed and the council has agreed to bring in an outside consultant to advise on the options available for managing the overall waste stream. Sierra Club members and the general public are encouraged to contact their council representatives to encourage them to explore alternatives and to voice their concerns against the incinerator.

Click here for contact information for your council representative.

The public is also encouraged to attend an upcoming public hearing on the incinerator and landfill at 6:30 pm on June 24. The meeting will be held at Gethsemane Community Center at 2449 Beacon St. in Charleston.

For more information about the incinerator, including the public health impacts visit the Lunz Groups PDF.

Sincerely, Sierra Club Lunz Group Executive Committee