𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐎𝐍- 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲

It is deeply concerning to hear the recent statement from the Thrompen of Phuentsholing Thromde on BBS regarding the potential revival of an incinerator unit. The idea of making such a harmful facility operational again, despite its well-known adverse health effects, is baffling. Studies have consistently shown that incinerators are associated with significant health risks, including cancer, congenital anomalies, infant deaths, and miscarriages. This alarming decision ignores the grave consequences incinerators have on public health and the environment.

Incinerators release a wide array of dangerous pollutants into the air, water, and food supply. Particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), hydrochloric acid (HCl), and toxic metals like cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic are just a few of the harmful substances emitted when waste is incinerated. These pollutants don’t just disappear, they enter the environment, poisoning the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. They settle into people’s bodies, leading to long-term health issues.

Moreover, the operators of these incinerators are at considerable risk. Incinerators run at extremely high temperatures, which increase the likelihood of burns, fires, and carbon monoxide poisoning. The very act of operating these facilities creates hazards not just for the workers but for the communities surrounding them. If the Thromde is considering reintroducing incinerators into its waste management plan, it must grapple with the public health and safety risks that will inevitably follow.

One of the primary justifications for incineration is the growing waste management issue. There’s no denying that Bhutan faces a waste crisis. Landfills are overflowing, and proper collection, segregation, and disposal systems are lacking. However, resorting to incineration is a shortcut that worsens the problem rather than addressing the root causes of waste mismanagement.

We need to view waste as a resource, not a burden. For instance, paper waste can be repurposed for producing egg trays, which are an essential commodity. Plastic waste, rather than being burned, can be recycled into countless useful products. Glass and metal are in high demand by scavengers and the recycling industry, providing economic incentives to retrieve these materials from waste streams. Even organic waste, which is often seen as problematic, can be composted and used to enrich soil, creating healthier and more sustainable gardens and farms.

Incineration, on the other hand, destroys these valuable resources while producing harmful by-products. Burning one metric ton of municipal waste in an incinerator releases between 0.07 to 1.2 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. Around 33% to 50% of the carbon released from waste incineration is biogenic in origin, meaning that even natural materials like food scraps and plant matter are being turned into harmful greenhouse gases.

The toxic emissions from incinerators are perhaps their most dangerous aspect. These facilities release hazardous air pollutants, including PM2.5 and PM10 (tiny particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs), carbon monoxide, acid gases, nitrogen oxides, and dioxins, which are known carcinogens. Exposure to these pollutants increases the risk of cancers, respiratory diseases, birth defects, and other severe health issues. The closer a person lives to an incinerator, the more they are exposed to these toxins through the air, water, and food supply.

In countries where incinerators are widely used, studies have shown elevated rates of cancer and other diseases among populations living near these facilities. With Bhutan’s close-knit communities and limited healthcare infrastructure, the public health impact of reintroducing incinerators could be catastrophic. It’s not just about waste disposal; it’s about the health and well-being of our citizens.

If incinerators have a place in waste management, it is only in dealing with medical waste. Hospitals produce hazardous materials that must be treated with extreme care to prevent the spread of disease. Poly Chamber Incinerators, for instance, are effective at destroying hazardous materials from healthcare settings while reducing waste volume. These incinerators have lower emissions compared to standard municipal waste incinerators, making them a somewhat more environmentally friendly option for this specific type of waste.

However, even in medical waste management, caution is necessary. Incinerators should only be used when absolutely necessary, and strict safety protocols must be in place to minimize risks to workers and the surrounding community. For general municipal waste, incinerators remain an inappropriate and dangerous solution.

It is true that Bhutan’s landfills are overloaded. The current waste management practices such as minimal waste treatment, ineffective recovery, and limited recycling have led to landfills reaching their capacity much faster than anticipated. Yet, turning to incineration as a solution is simply adding more pollution to the problem. Open and unsanitary landfills are already contributing to the contamination of our water supply and the spread of diseases. Poor waste management is creating a situation where air, water, and soil are all being polluted.

Rather than resorting to harmful methods like incineration, we need to focus on developing better waste collection systems. Every Dzongkhag, Thromde, and Gewog should implement waste segregation at the source, ensuring that recyclable materials are recovered, organic waste is composted, and only truly hazardous waste is sent to facilities that can manage it responsibly.

Tshering, Thimphu