Philadelphia City Council Pulls Trash Incineration Bill at Last Minute
A contentious legislation aimed at phasing out trash incineration in Philadelphia was put on hold before a vote by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier. The Stop Trashing Our Air Act would ban the city from contracting companies that burn solid waste, with the aim of sending 37% of Philly's trash - approximately one-third of which is currently burned at Reworld, a Delaware County-based incinerator - to landfills instead.
Residents claimed the plant pollutes the air, exacerbating health issues such as asthma and lung cancer. "I don't care if it's Philadelphia or Chester, we have to make sure that people come first," Gauthier said in justifying her stance. The mayor of nearby Chester, Stefan Roots, countered that 90% of trash burned at Reworld comes from outside his city.
Supporters of the plant, however, argued that it provides jobs and supports the community. Alyssa Wilds, senior director of corporate and community relations at Reworld, claimed her family does not suffer from pollution-related health problems despite living close to the facility. John Scott, director of government relations for Reworld, feared that passing the legislation would disrupt the city's procurement process.
The bill was pulled from consideration after a crowded City Council meeting where dozens of public commenters weighed in on the issue. Gauthier vowed to keep pushing for the measure despite its temporary postponement, stating "people over profit, people over polluters."
A contentious legislation aimed at phasing out trash incineration in Philadelphia was put on hold before a vote by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier. The Stop Trashing Our Air Act would ban the city from contracting companies that burn solid waste, with the aim of sending 37% of Philly's trash - approximately one-third of which is currently burned at Reworld, a Delaware County-based incinerator - to landfills instead.
Residents claimed the plant pollutes the air, exacerbating health issues such as asthma and lung cancer. "I don't care if it's Philadelphia or Chester, we have to make sure that people come first," Gauthier said in justifying her stance. The mayor of nearby Chester, Stefan Roots, countered that 90% of trash burned at Reworld comes from outside his city.
Supporters of the plant, however, argued that it provides jobs and supports the community. Alyssa Wilds, senior director of corporate and community relations at Reworld, claimed her family does not suffer from pollution-related health problems despite living close to the facility. John Scott, director of government relations for Reworld, feared that passing the legislation would disrupt the city's procurement process.
The bill was pulled from consideration after a crowded City Council meeting where dozens of public commenters weighed in on the issue. Gauthier vowed to keep pushing for the measure despite its temporary postponement, stating "people over profit, people over polluters."
. I mean, have we really learned anything from the Black Friday shopping disasters? 
We're still debating the merits of trash incineration, and it's just gonna keep coming back like a bad dream. I don't buy that 90% figure from the mayor of Chester either... how do you even verify that kind of thing? 
And what about all the jobs that supposedly come with burning trash? Are those really worth sacrificing our air quality for? 
people are speaking out and demanding change, which is exactly what should be happening here. it's not just about the incinerator or the jobs it provides, it's about the health of our community. we can't let corporations prioritize profits over our well-being. 
i love that councilmember Gauthier is standing up for her constituents and advocating for people over profit. let's keep the momentum going and make sure this bill gets back on track! 
. btw, I'm surprised @MayorRoots didn't bring out the ol' "it's not my problem" card 
. and Reworld's PR team must be like "oh no, someone's gonna sue us over asthma" 
. it's cute how they think a simple bill change is gonna make all their health problems go away 
. guess we'll just have to keep an eye on this one...
I mean, on one hand, our air is literally getting polluted by all that trash burning, which is no joke for people with asthma and lung cancer. And, you know, Gauthier's whole "people over profit" thing? 
That sounds really great... but then again, what about the jobs that Reworld provides? Is it even worth it to sacrifice those if it means our air gets cleaner? 
I don't know, man. Can we just take a deep breath and try to figure this out some more? 
also, can we talk about how some ppl are still trying to downplay the whole pollution issue just cuz it affects their family members 
and honestly, i think its time for philly to start taking care of its own air quality 
It seems like both sides have valid points - the environmental concerns vs. the economic benefits for local families who work at the plant.
. And while I get that people do care about jobs and community support, can't we prioritize public health too? 
It's not just about the air quality, it's about the impact on our overall well-being.
. Maybe we can revisit this in the future with some more thoughtful discussion and compromise? 
plus the mayor from chester said 90% of trash comes from outside his city, it's not like they're just burning philly trash lol. anyway, gauthier is still gonna keep pushin for her bill, cool 
they were like super close to banning trash incineration but then pulled it at last minute i mean i get it ppl don't wanna live in a polluted city and all that but this is kinda a big deal for jobs and the community too...my brain hurts trying to figure out what's best here what do u guys think? 
! The Stop Trashing Our Air Act might have been put on hold, but this doesn't mean we should lose momentum 
. We need to keep pushing for a cleaner, healthier city for all its residents 
, but not at the cost of our health and well-being 
. It's time for Philly to take control of its waste management and make a change that benefits everyone 
. We can do this, council! Keep fighting for what's right, Jamie 
i feel u so much 
, it's like they're stuck between a rock and a hard place 
, but on the other hand, the plant is providing jobs & supporting the community 
. On the other hand, I get why ppl w/ jobs there think it's a big deal 