1/ Proposed as a solution to the waste management crisis & a #sustainable #energy source, #waste-to-energy technology sounds, like a win-win solution. But as the growing local opposition in #SoutheastAsia shows, it is anything but.
A 🧵 on the reality of the effects of #incineration on local communities, an investigation supported by #JournalismFund, published in #EnergyMonitor
2/ Waste-to-energy plants burn waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill, producing heat electricity.
Pioneered in developed countries like #Germany & #Japan, the tech has found its way into #SEAsia, including #Indonesia, the #Philippines, & #Thailand.
6/ There are also technical challenges.
In #SoutheastAsia, organic waste can make up ~50% of #waste – unsuitable for efficient burning. To reach the high temps that incinerators need, it will need more fuel: #plastic, made from #fossilfuels & releasing #GHG.
That alone could make waste-to-energy far less green than originally thought.
7/ Construction is well underway in the #Philippines as well, where waste collectors who earn as little as ~$90/mo have no idea about the impact these plants might have on their livelihoods.
With the lack of transparency about these projects, locals are left to pick up the pieces
9/ The lack of transparency and consideration of local contexts are only a few of the issues surrounding waste-to-energy. Learn more in this investigation published in #EnergyMonitor co-reported by Alexandra Buba 🇩🇪 Nicha Wachpanich 🇹🇭 & Geela Garcia 🇵🇭 with the support of #JournalismFundEU
10/ This was reported over several months in four countries: 🇯🇵 🇮🇩 🇵🇭 🇹🇭 shedding light on local communities’ plights.
"Incineration is not part of our climate solution. When people learn [that] incineration is dirtier than a coal plant, they feel this needs to be stopped.” #GAIA
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