For the moment, the Allentown Waste-To-Energy menace has been stopped. Please thank the three no voters on City Council for doing the right thing for the people of Allentown: Jeanette Eichenwald – 610.349.6470; Ray O’Connell – 484.866.0988; and Cynthia Mota – 484.225.9969
Al Wurth sent out this email about the City Council vote that stopped the proposed waste combustion facility on Feb 16, 2012 at 12:08am: “Thanks and congrats on the WTE vote. Just wanted to thank you all for your hard work, time spent, fine statement and energy and encouragement on this craziness that looked like a ‘done deal.’ When the vote tied [3 for, 3 against], I wasn’t sure I believed it, but then I was sure I heard it right. We should thank our three supporters (and, of course, get ready for the next shoe to drop–I suspect this vampire will rise from the dead again). Now, we should celebrate; I had a bowl of ice cream when I got home. Thanks again for your work for the community.
(For background info, see Al Wurth’s 2-12-12 letter.)
I agree with Al that a celebration is in order. But after the celebration, I think we need to address two concerns raised at the Allentown City Council meeting on Feb 15:
1) Those for the combustion chamber scenario at the City Council meeting raised the specters of landfills and sludge as being the alternatives to their burners. We need to present info on ecologically sound, sustainable approaches to stuff regarded as “waste”. What should we be doing instead of landfills and sludge?
2) Unions for the combustion chamber scenario at the City Council meeting interpreted opposition to the waste-to-energy facility as denying hard-working folks needed jobs in these economically hard times. What about jobs and the local economy? What productive, living wage (and higher-paying) work is there in sustainable, resilient communities? What indeed does a sustainable regional economy look like?
I’d like to discuss the above, touching on such stuff as “waste is only waste if you haven’t figured out what you can do with it”, “ecological sensible alternatives to conventional wastewater systems”, “producing for need”, and “green working ops”. What would be a reasonable and effective way to share ideas and info about such stuff?
2/17/12 – 2:14am