incineration

Environmentalists from the local branch of Greenpeace spoke out on Thursday about their campaigning to stop the construction of solid waste processing facilities in St. Petersburg. The organization argues that the technology used at the plants will severely damage the environment by contributing to air pollution.

Late last month, Mayor Yury Luzhkov quietly signed a decree ordering the construction of six new incinerators inside the city limits before 2012. Together with the four existing facilities, they will burn over 3 million tons of garbage per year, operating in every district of the city except the center. The plan is estimated to cost 60 billion rubles, or $2.5 billion, and it will place huge smokestacks near some of Moscow's greenest areas.

The hot story in the news today is: Pharmaceuticals Found in Drinking Water. Media is also reporting that scientists do not know the long term effects of exposure to these drugs, or the best way to dispose of medications. This blog is a good summary of the problem being faced across America, and some promising solutions.