To the Editor:
With Earth Day approaching later this month, and with various environmental actions planned at the federal and state levels this week, I am writing about two pending pieces of legislation.

The CLEAN [Climate Leadership and Environmental Action] Future Act has the laudable goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas pollution by 2050. However, numerous environmental groups object to the inclusion of “waste to energy” incineration as “clean energy.”

The prospect of encouraging incineration is of concern, particularly when one considers various incinerators in this area, including, but not limited to, the LaFargeHolcin cement plant in Coeymans, which emits solid residues that end up in the Hudson River and contribute to pollution in our waterways, and its airborne debris has been detected as far away as Colonie.

The Norlite incinerator is located in a densely populated portion of Cohoes. The Times Union recently reported that Norlite had been burning toxic firefighting foam for a longer time and to a greater extent than previously known, with possible health and environmental implications.

The state-run ANSWERS [Albany New York Solid Waste Energy Recovery System] plant that operated in downtown Albany spewed ash throughout the city and contributed to health problems in local residents.

These are very abbreviated comments about these facilities, but many have serious reservations about promoting incineration as “clean energy.” In addition, the presence of these facilities in residential areas adds to traffic congestion, wear and tear on local streets, noise, and other problems.

Our local experiences with incinerators raises serious doubts that there won’t be environmental or health consequences by promoting “waste to energy.” I would like to encourage Congressman Paul Tonko to remove this provision from this legislation.

The Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act was reintroduced in Congress within the last two weeks. It contains many provisions that would hold plastic polluters accountable.

The situation involving plastics in our waters is devastating; one can read a story about the impact on our oceans almost daily. Numerous studies show that each of us ingests more plastic than we realize each week.

However, it appears that more and more of our products are marketed in plastic, making it extremely difficult for the consumer to avoid it.

The Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act would, among other things, shift responsibility for waste management and recycling to manufacturers and producers, phase out certain single-use plastics that aren’t recyclable, and prohibit plastic waste from being exported to developing countries.

If you are not already familiar with this bill, I encourage you to learn about it, and I urge Congressman Tonko to sign on as a co-sponsor of this vital piece of legislation.

Jill Loew

Guilderland

Editor’s note: See related story.