12-25-2007, 09:24 AM
"H-Power...shows little or no smoke"
'smoke' is not the point.
Incinerator pollutants -- dioxin, heavy metals, nitrous oxide -- are not associated with 'smoke'. The harm takes place with amounts too small for the human eye to see! and over along period by means of bio-accumulation in the food chain.
There is no epidemiological research to prove or disprove whetherthere been negative health effects from H-Power.
H-Power is sometimes referred to as a success that points to the desirability of incineration in Hilo. This is not an informed position.
First, the environmental health safety of incineration has not been proven (or disproven) at H-Power and has been disproven elsewhere. Hilo cannot place assurance in either technology nor regulations to avoid harmful incineration pollution.
Second, the situation in Hilo in 2007 is not like what it was on Oahu when they built H-Power (1980's/90/s). Oahu is bigger and generates more materials for incineration -- the relatively small amount of materials in Hilo makes the financial difficulties greater.
Third, the markets and processes for recycling and re-using materials is now much, much more advanced so as to make the economics of recycling and re-use much, much more favorable.
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park
'smoke' is not the point.
Incinerator pollutants -- dioxin, heavy metals, nitrous oxide -- are not associated with 'smoke'. The harm takes place with amounts too small for the human eye to see! and over along period by means of bio-accumulation in the food chain.
There is no epidemiological research to prove or disprove whetherthere been negative health effects from H-Power.
H-Power is sometimes referred to as a success that points to the desirability of incineration in Hilo. This is not an informed position.
First, the environmental health safety of incineration has not been proven (or disproven) at H-Power and has been disproven elsewhere. Hilo cannot place assurance in either technology nor regulations to avoid harmful incineration pollution.
Second, the situation in Hilo in 2007 is not like what it was on Oahu when they built H-Power (1980's/90/s). Oahu is bigger and generates more materials for incineration -- the relatively small amount of materials in Hilo makes the financial difficulties greater.
Third, the markets and processes for recycling and re-using materials is now much, much more advanced so as to make the economics of recycling and re-use much, much more favorable.
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park