Metro pushes ahead with garbage incinerator plan

Metro Vancouver's waste committee is sticking with a proposal to build a trash incinerator in the region, despite widespread opposition and warnings that the provincial government will reject the project.

The committee agreed Wednesday to recommend the Metro board approve a plan that includes investigating "additional publicly owned waste-to-energy capacity" in Metro Vancouver.

The full Metro board will consider the plan on July 30 before it goes to Environment Minister Barry Penner for final approval. Penner has already reminded Metro that it has other options, including expanding the Cache Creek landfill and a proposal to build an incinerator in Gold River on Vancouver Island.

Communities in the Fraser Valley, fearing increased air pollution, have voted unanimously against the incinerator proposal. At least four Metro municipalities, including Vancouver, have said they won't support incineration until the region has explored all options to reduce waste.

"I'm very doubtful if an in-region waste facility would pass scrutiny by the provincial government," said Port Moody Mayor Joe Trasolini, who voted against the plan. "I want to go to Victoria with something that has a reasonable chance. Our choices are waste to energy outside the region or landfill, and I'm not prepared to accept a landfill."

Trasolini and Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore, chairman of the solid waste committee, suggested Metro consider building an incinerator outside the region. Moore said he's comfortable with incinerator technology, but predicted "fierce" opposition to it being built in Metro. He thought there would be multiple bidders to host it outside the region.