FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 26, 2025
Metro Vancouver Must Shut Down the Burnaby Waste-to-Energy Facility to Meet its Environmental and Financial Goals
Environmental organizations Zero Waste BC, Zero Waste Canada, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment BC, Doctors for Planetary Health – West Coast, GAIA, and For Our Kids, Burnaby urge Metro Vancouver to phase out its waste incinerator citing economic, environmental, health, and climate impacts
Vancouver, B.C. (February 26, 2025) — While Metro Vancouver looks to decrease costs, a 2023 study by Zero Waste BC confirms that incineration is the most expensive waste management approach. The Burnaby incinerator is set for costly repairs and maintenance and if the facility is to meet provincial air quality standards, it would require an additional $100 million—above and beyond what is already scheduled. If the facility were to pay its fair share of carbon tax for burning fossil fuel-based plastics, it would face another $10 million in annual costs.
“By supporting the local economy and circulating materials within the community instead of utilizing tax dollars to burn our resources and harm individuals, we can prioritize human and environmental health in a cost-effective manner and move towards zero waste,” said Sue Maxwell, chair of Zero Waste BC. “Our recent Case Study on Metro Vancouver demonstrated that actions to prevent or divert waste are highly effective, less polluting, and less costly compared to burning waste, which is the worst option.”
Metro Vancouver’s costs do not encompass the full extent of environmental and health impacts. Incinerators release dioxins, mercury, cadmium, lead, and other pollutants that exacerbate lung diseases such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These pollutants are toxic to young children, impair reproduction, and are associated with heart, lung, and brain diseases.
Dr. Tim Takaro of CAPE-BC emphasizes, “Dioxins are harmful to developing humans and other animals. Many are carcinogenic. Dioxins accumulate in the environment and our bodies, and there are no safe levels. The Burnaby incinerator adds these toxins to our environment and we need to shut it down.”
Dr. Doug Courtemanche of Doctors for Planetary Health – West Coast reinforced the urgency: “Who would want to leave toxins for their children? No one who wants to be a good ancestor would do that. Unfortunately, it is far too easy to get a permit to harm the future.”
Over 7,600 people live within 2 km of the incinerator and that does not include the numerous workers that are exposed when they commute to the area each day. Air pollution from the facility not only affects local residents and employees but also extends to downwind communities in the Fraser Valley. Metro Vancouver’s aging incinerator fails to adhere to best practices in minimizing pollution and does not conduct adequate testing for it.
The Burnaby incinerator is the 16th largest emitting facility of fossil-based carbon dioxide in the province, releasing 124,541 tonnes of fossil-based CO2e emissions in 2023 – equivalent to emissions from over 22,000 cars. With biogenic emissions included, its total carbon footprint reached 277,877 tCO2e.
Metro Vancouver’s 2022 waste composition study found that 80% of the region’s garbage consists of compostable organics, recyclables, and construction and demolition debris—all materials with existing alternatives available. Numerous actions can be taken by Metro Vancouver, its member municipalities, businesses, and society to reduce waste, rendering the incinerator unnecessary.
The regional district is currently in the midst of planning its next Solid Waste Management Plan and the recent Ideas Generation phase of the planning process has underscored the diverse range of strategies to reduce waste. “Metro Vancouver has a critical opportunity to phase out the Burnaby incinerator and develop real zero waste solutions,” said Denaya Shorter, Senior Director of the US & Canada Region at the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA). “Investing in these proven solutions, rather than locking into costly and polluting greenwashed-technologies like incineration, is essential for a just and sustainable future.”
Jamie Kaminski of Zero Waste Canada emphasized the benefits of pursuing zero waste systems with a focus on enhancing prevention, reuse, and diversion infrastructure already in place. “This approach can create local jobs and support local businesses while simultaneously reducing waste”.
With Metro Vancouver developing a new solid waste plan, and not locked into burning waste for its district heating plan nor the contract to operate the incinerator, now is the time to phase out incineration and move towards its financial, climate, air quality, environment, and zero waste goals.
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Zero Waste BC -Sue Maxwell
Zero Waste Canada -Jamie Kaminski
CAPE-BC -Dr. Tim Takaro
Doctors for Planetary Health – West Coast, Dr. Douglas Courtemanche
Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) -Denaya Shorter
For Our Kids, Burnaby -Kate McMahon
Background info
Metro Vancouver Goals/Targets/Vision
- Air Quality and GHGs -Metro Vancouver’s Clean Air Plan (2021) -Targets -1. Reduce regional GHG emissions by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030; 2. Air quality in the region is continually improving, protecting human health and the environment, by ensuring that: ambient air quality meets or is better than the ambient air quality objectives and standards that are regularly updated by Metro Vancouver, the BC Government and the Government of Canada. https://metrovancouver.org/services/air-quality-climate-action/Documents/clean-air-plan-2021.pdf
- Ecological Health Framework -Goal: Build ecological resilience and minimize impacts https://metrovancouver.org/services/regional-planning/Documents/ecological-health-framework.pdf
- Solid Waste -Vision -A thriving region where nothing is wasted and resources are valued. Previous target: 80% diversion by 2020. https://metrovancouver.org/services/solid-waste/solid-waste-management-plan-update
- Recycling and Composting Info Sheet for Ideas Generation https://drive.google.com/file/d/111WMUV8k4LtE319Tw4AlpjWY3p_4yNJC/view?usp=sharing
Metro Vancouver estimated costs to decrease sulfur dioxide and hydrochloric acid https://metrovancouver.org/boards/ZeroWaste/ZWA-2024-09-05-AGE.pdf
Asthma alone already accounted for $56 Million in health care costs in 2006 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2866215/
Health Canada. Health Impacts of Air Pollution in Canada: Estimates of morbidity and premature mortality outcomes -2021 Report. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/health-impacts-air-pollution-2021.html#a6
Costs and Benefits of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation -notes future social and economic costs https://natural-resources.canada.ca/sites/nrcan/files/GNBC/Chapter%206_Costs%20and%20Benefits%20of%20Climate%20Change%20Impacts%20and%20Adaptation_Final_EN.pdf
Nature March 2024 -Article noting socioeconomic costs of climate change https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07147-z
GHG Emissions -provincial database 2023 report -see SFO tab https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/climate-change/data/industrial-facility-ghg
Zero Waste BC-a retrospective case study on Metro Vancouver’s Solid Waste system https://drive.google.com/file/d/19oum89-TgC7Ab9-1C1IW2qFyVA7uOjyU/view
Zero Waste BC’s feedback on Metro Vancouver’s request to be allowed to pollute at levels over the Provincial guidelines https://www.zerowastebc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ZWBC-response-to-MV-proposed-OC-amendment-1.pdf
Dr. Douw Steyn’s Review of Air Quality Standards and Municipal Solid Waste Incineration in Metro Vancouver https://www.zerowastebc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Review-of-Air-Quality-Standards-in-Metro-Vancouver-FINAL-1.pdf
Canadian Zero Waste Coalition’s Stopping Waste to Energy in Canada resources https://www.zerowastebc.ca/about-us/our-work/#Research
Population living within 3 km of Burnaby Incinerator https://www.zerowastebc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Population-living-within-3-kilometers-of-the-Burnaby-Incinerator-1.pdf
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Available for Interviews on Feb 26th
Sue Maxwell, Zero Waste BC, smaxwell@zerowastebc.ca, 604-734-4046
Dr. Tim Takaro, CAPE-BC, ttakaro@sfu.ca, 604-838-7458
Dr. Douglas Courtemanche, Doctors for Planetary Health – West Coast, douglas.courtemanche@ubc.ca
Kate McMahon – For Our Kids, Burnaby, katetdaley@gmail.com