Up in Smoke: Vancouver Observer series on Metro’s half-billion dollar incineration plan

Since January the Vancouver Observer has published the Up in Smoke series “on Metro Vancouver’s half-billion dollar garbage plan.” The series cover the many issues and big questions surrounding Metro’s proposal to build a $500 million taxpayer-funded waste incinerator.

Waste management, and particularly Metro Vancouver’s decision processes, are very complicated – the Observer’s reporting introduces readers to the key players, the international context and track record, and also shows readers the history of the incinerator plan dating back almost a decade, including the key decision points along the way.

This is useful reading for anyone in the region who is interested in this issue. We include links to the series below:

Big companies and big money square off over Metro Van’s $480m incineration plan (Jan. 31, 2014)

Metro Van and Fraser Valley Regional District butt heads over incinerator plan (Jan. 31, 2014)

Big money for one company if Metro Van pushes incinerator plan through. Here’s who’ll make it. (Feb. 4, 2014)

Andrea Reimer says Metro Van’s incinerator plan from another era (Feb. 6, 2014)

As Europe shies away from burning trash, Metro Vancouver gears up for $480m waste-to-energy incinerator (Feb. 11, 2014)

Port Moody councillor questions Metro Van’s headlong rush to burn garbage (Feb. 13, 2014)

Metro Vancouver’s Burnaby incinerator burning through taxpayer money (Feb. 13, 2014)

Garbage burning plan ‘dangerous’ to health, says UBC expert (Feb. 21, 2014)

“Dark star” of recycling expected to feed into proposed Metro Van incinerator (Feb. 27, 2014)

Turning garbage into electricity, metal and toxic ash at the Burnaby incinerator (Mar. 4, 2014)

The “mind-boggling” path toward Metro Vancouver’s $480 million incineration plan (Mar. 5, 2014)

Incinerators and coal factories equal in dismal economic benefits, U.S. study says Mar. 12, 2014)

Euro-trash tours sent Metro Van decision makers jet-setting away from nearby solutions (Mar. 13, 2014)

Fraser Valley decries incinerator plan, Burnaby mayor claims they’re ‘slamming door after cows’ already out (Mar. 14, 2014)

A waste-to-energy spin doctor’s playbook (Mar. 18, 2014) 

2008 Paris trip first spark in Metro Van decision-maker’s push for incineration here (Mar. 18, 2014)

Peter Ladner on Metro Vancouver’s garbage conundrum (Mar. 19, 2014)

Vancouver Observer goes to North America’s “Greenest City” to see how it handles garbage – VIDEO (Mar. 19, 2014)

The world’s biggest incinerator debacles. Could it happen to Metro Vancouver? (Mar. 21, 2014)

Metro Vancouver’s proposed incinerator a “sink hole” for taxpayers: Canadian Taxpayers Federation (Mar. 25, 2014)

Nanaimo city officials take a beating over Metro Van’s Duke Point incinerator plan (Apr. 4, 2014)

Nanaimo says, “No,” to Metro Vancouver’s incinerator proposal (Apr. 5, 2014)

Coquitlam demands business case from Metro Vancouver for $480 million incineration plan (Apr. 11, 2014)

Straw poll shows divided support for $480 million Metro Van garbage incinerator (Apr. 22, 2014)

Critics blast Metro Vancouver’s ‘greenwashed’ new business plan for incinerator (Apr. 25, 2014)

Proponents defend half-billion dollar incinerator as “least costly” way to deal with garbage (Apr. 28, 2014)

Metro Vancouver’s proposed incinerator fails economic and environmental test: critics (Apr. 30, 2014)

BC Hydro’s stern letter shakes up business case for Metro Van’s proposed incinerator (May 2, 2014)

BC Chamber of Commerce rejects Metro Van incineration and waste-flow control plan (May 8, 2014)

Metro Van continues to make its controversial case for incineration (July 22, 2014)