Let’s not burn our trash

I have read the report, and not only see bias toward incineration, but I also see a lack of information about alternatives.

There’s a bias because the report’s conclusions are based on data provided by the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority, which owns the “waste-to-energy“ incinerators in counties that are its paid members. The authority owns the incinerators, and underwrites the bonds for hundreds of millions of dollars for counties to build them.

In the Beck report, alternatives to incineration aren't mentioned. Expansion of recycling was mentioned, but not enough to significantly reduce our waste prior to burning. Since the report was issued, Frederick and Carroll counties paid a combined $398,000 to HDR Engineering to explore only incineration.

All this money has been spent for reports that dismiss composting and ignore comprehensive recycling. Other communities around the country are adopting these measures and eliminating the need for an incinerator.

It is the responsibility of our director of solid waste to look to what his colleagues around the nation are doing to solve our solid waste issues safely — and without undue taxpayer expense.

Commissioner Kai J. Hagen (D) asked Mr. Marschner if other consultants should be considered to re-evaluate alternatives.

Mr. Marschner responded, “That's not something government does. R.W. Beck is a professional consultant. They do a fair amount of work nationally.“

My response to that is government makes a mistake in not performing due diligence.

Please contact the members of our Frederick Board of County Commissioners and tell them you want a second opinion from a less expensive, independent, green-minded consultant.

Sally Sorbello, Frederick