Great Lakes Waste and Environmental Justice Woodward Ballroom D Thursday, October 13 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Great Lakes Waste and Environmental Justice
Jan 17, 2015
The Detroit trash incinerator is the symbol of environmental racism in the heart of the Great Lakes. It was conceived in the 1970s, paid for, designed and constructed in the 1980s, and has been operating ever since (with brief interruptions) at the rate of about 800,000 tons of trash per year, in an African-American community that is plagued by poverty, asthma and many other public health crises, unnecessarily generating nightmarish quantities of mercury, dioxins, heavy metals, particulates and other airborne toxics and odors that ultimately sink into the Great Lakes waters. This workshop will tell the story of the Detroit Trash Incinerator and explore the interrelated questions of race, class, economic development, political decision making and ecological sustainability, as they relate to the precious inland fresh water seas that have always served as the basis for human settlements in the region.
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Great Lakes Waste and Environmental Justice
Woodward Ballroom DThursday, October 13
1:30-2:30 p.m.
Zero Waste DetroitPresented by: Ahmina Maxey
Zero Waste Detroit ZWD is a coalition of local organizations
advocating for: Curbside recycling - a materials recovery
system that will bring new jobs and economic development to Detroit
End to waste incineration
Our Goals1. Ensure that no city dollars go toward
incineration of our trash
2. Expand curbside recycling throughout Detroit
3. Facilitate investment in Detroit’s green economy
Incinerator Facts The Mayor has committed to BURN Detroit’s
trash, even though land-filling is lower cost. Recovery of materials (recycling) and using
those materials as feedstock for industry creates more jobs than burning trash.
Incinerator steam is not essential to supply heat and energy to schools and buildings on the steam loop.
Asthma death in Detroit is twice the state avg.
The Alternative to Incineration is Recycling
What Can You Do?1. Join Zero Waste Detroit
2. Report any odors via the zerowastedetroit.org website
3. Keep the messages flowing. Call or write: Keep Detroit on the path to Green! No City dollars for
incineration! Expand Curbside Recycling!
Mayor Bing, 313-224-3400 [email protected]
Again…1. Join Us!!!
2. Report any odors via the zerowastedetroit.org website
3. Keep the messages flowing. Call or write: Keep Detroit on the path to Green! No City dollars for
incineration! Expand Curbside Recycling!
Mayor Bing, 313-224-3400 [email protected]
ZWD Members Coalition for Community
Change Detroit Audubon Society Detroit Catholic Pastoral
Alliance Detroiters Working for
Environmental Justice East Michigan
Environmental Action Council
Ecology Center Feedom Freedom Great Lakes Bioneers
Detroit Greenacres Woodward Civic
Association
Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Michigan Environmental Council
Rosedale Recycles Sierra Club Environmental
Justice Program Sierra Club Southeast
Michigan Group Southwest Detroit
Environmental Vision Sugar Law Center for
Economic and Social Justice
Questions?
Spread the word!Wireless password:
HOW11
Conference website:
Conference.healthylakes.org
Email us photos, comments, tweets or video & we will post online:
On Twitter? Use the hashtag:
#healthylakes
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