Trash-Energy

The League of Women Voters of Los Angeles applauds The Times for the informative article on refuse-to-energy plants (March 9). In the interest of reducing land disposal of waste and encouraging resource recovery, the league endorses such plants, but with some qualifications.

The air emissions from these trash burners must, of course, be mitigated and research must continue on toxic emissions and improving methods of pollution control. At the same time, it must be recognized that our current method of trash disposal, including trucking for ever-longer distances, is not without air pollution problems.

The league believes that citywide curb-side trash separation and recycling should be established before the proposed trash-to-energy plants are constructed. If there is less trash entering these plants, there will be less air pollution from them and less ash needing land disposal.

The societal benefits of such curb-side trash separation and recycling supersede the actual profit from the recycled products, since market prices are likely to continue to fluctuate.

Waste reduction at the source should also receive a high priority. Our “throwaway society” has created mountains of trash. Solving the problem will inevitably lead to some objections and engender concerns about health risks.

Siting these refuse-to-energy plants is certainly a thorny issue. Of utmost importance is public communication and education early in the process and a determined effort to site these facilities equitably and in locations where the environmental impact is reduced to a minimum.

ETTA-BELLE KITCHEN

President

INGRID MARKUL

Natural Resource Director

League of Women Voters

Los Angeles