Garbage Remains a Burning Problem
by J.M. Denooyer

Bellingham Herald, 1988

The problem with garbage is that it's a sum zero game. Garbage has to go somewhere but nobody wants it in their backyard. It's as if trash is deposited in the garbage can and somehow it's supposed to disappear into some magic black hole. Problem is, there is no black hole. There Isn't even room for any more landfill . What was once thought to be a progressive solution - incinerating garbage - has become a major point of contention.
The solution everybody can agree on - recycling - is not a panacea for all the garbage problems. Only so much trash is recyclable. It remains a problem with no easy or cheap solution.
That Thermal Reduction Company (TRC) exist is evidence that somebody was worried about the future of land fill. However, since TRC was built, some serious questions have been raised concerning the ecological soundness of incineration. Indeed, most counties have strong doubts that it's viable.
Barbara Brenner, the self-styled community activist, has raised many pertinent questions concerning the environmental problems of incinerating garbage that were not fully discussed before. As was pointed out by Bert Brainard, Director of Environmental Health in Whatcom County, before Brenner started her advocacy group Safe Waste Management Now, "this (TRC's incineration) wasn't getting the attention it deserved."
Indeed, there is a strong need for a quick solution to the county's garbage problem. With the problem at the Cedarville landfill that are now becoming public, county and city officials would like an easy solution. But the problems brought out by the members of Safe Waste Management Now seem to cast strong doubt as to whether Incineration is the beat alternative.
Many in Whatcom County are concerned with "quality of life" Issues; good health is such an Issue. Incineration of such things as plastics and medical wade raise serious doubts in regard to sound health practices.
On Oct. 26 a public hearing was held on whether the variance granted TRC to install pollution control devices should be. shortened. There was an t obvious public interest judging from the packed auditorium at Roeder school. However. If the information presented by TRC, the Department of Ecology (DOE), the Northwest Air Pollution Control Authority (NWAPA), and Safe Waste Management Now was meant to clear things up, it did not to most of the lay audience, the writer included, the meeting raised many conflicting points and made the issue of incineration even more complicated.
Brenner's point that there in a conflict of interest on the part of Mayor Tim Douglas deserves attention. Douglas negotiated the city's garbage contract with the TRC, yet he also tilts on the NWAPA board. This seems a blatant conflict of Interest, no matter bow reasonable a man the mayor would seem to be.
It is not enough for the mayor to appoint someone to replace him, as he did by sending City Council member Foster Rose to the Nov. 15 meeting in Mount Vernon. He should not vote on any further decision concerning TRC. This would be reasonable and credible, and preserve his integrity with voters.
In reality, any viable solution to the garbage problem will be extremely expensive. An article in the Seattle Times discussed the prospects of shipping garbage to a landfill in Arlington, Ore., which is located across the Columbia River from the Tri Cities area. (At last, an economic alternative to nuclear power for this part of the country: Turn the desert east of the Cascades Into a landfill!) However, this may be expensive, since garbage from Whatcom County would probably have to be trucked to Snohomish County and then transferred to rail cars, and then taken to the Gilliam County, Ore., landfill along with the garbage from Snobomish County.
However, reaching such a decision would take time. Given the Impending problems at Cedarville and TRC. Time is one commodity which seems scarce right now. TRC Is being touted as the best possible solution by the mayor; yet plenty of evidence indicates otherwise. Garbage remains a problem with no easy solution.
For the time being, TRC could act in good faith. On November 15 NWAPA placed limits on the amount of medical waste TRC can burn (two tons a week) and shortened the restricted time for TRC to install scrubbers (sixteen months.) Let's hope Jim Anderson, president of TRC, acts in the best interest of all concerned. As was stated by Dennis Hawkinson of the Ferndale City Council, the least TRC can do in restrict its incineration to waste produced in Whatcom County.

John M. Denooyer is a student at Western Washington University and on the board of Whatcom County Special Transportation.. He is a community columnist selected by The Bellingham Herald.