Carroll should require recycling instead of joining with Frederick County to build a $320 million waste-to-energy incinerator, residents say.
Incinerator opponents noted the county?s 27 percent recycling rate, among the lowest in the state.
“I really do feel there?s no excuse for everyone not recycling in this county,” Eldersburg resident Brenda Dornfeld said. “It?s pitiful.”
Others said financial incentives would encourage people to recycle more.
“It?s time to stand up and be strong political leaders and do mandatory recycling,” said Rebekah Orenstein, of Westminster. “When a county opts for incineration, they?re only proving they?re not clever enough to handle their solid-waste problems.”
About 30 people showed up at a forum to scrutinize the potential financial and health effects of what would become the state?s fourth incinerator.
Mike Evans, Carroll public works director, said his department has pushed for the incinerator but also supports increased recycling.
“The secret weapon is the fourth-grader,” Evans said, because children encouraged to recycle will go home and nag their parents to do so.
And Robin Davidov, executive director of the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority, which the counties have consulted, said recycling and an incinerator are not mutually exclusive.
The ash from an incinerator, for instance, can be recycled to create asphalt, she said.
“People often say, ?Should we recycle or burn it?? ” Davidov said. “It?s not either-or; it?s really complementary.”
One resident expressed support for an incinerator.
“No matter what we do, we have trash we need to make disappear,” said Frank Elgersma, of Westminster. “So I?m all for an incinerator, and I?m all for partnering with Frederick.”
