In the heart of Coconut Grove, an incinerator operated for nearly five decades from the 1926 to 1970, spewing toxic ash laden with chemicals on to playgrounds and schools, and across the West Coconut Grove neighborhood, as well as parts of neighboring Coral Gables. When "Old Smokey" belched out clouds of ash laden with harmful chemicals such as dioxins and arsenic, those toxins did not simply disappear. Rather, they covered the community, contaminating the soil, where they remain until removed. The impact was not only immediate but enduring, as the fallout contaminated parks and homes exposing unknowing generations of residents.
There are new generations of incinerators in use today, but the byproduct of burning trash is a highly toxic ash typically containing dioxins, furans, hydrochloric acid, benzo[a]pyrene, and heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury — all known to cause a variety of cancers and other serious illnesses. The question remains as to how effective our efforts would be to deal with those chemicals.
This month, we will watch a documentary produced by University of Miami that looks at the impact that burning garbage had on our community. Even though this incinerator has not been in operation for 55 years, it serves as a reminder why no one wants an incinerator in their backyard. As we prepare for next month’s commission meeting, it is important that we consider how the location of the Waste Recovery Site will affect all of us.
Our local Sierra Club staff person, Marcelo Balladares will serve as facilitator for a discussion of the film and our next steps, along with representatives from the following groups that are participating in efforts to create a more circular economy through zero waste initiatives.
• GenCLEO
• ResilientSea
• Fertile Earthworm Farm
• Zero Waste Miami
• Catalyst Miami
Please join us to learn about the history of trash burning, and learn about alternatives that can save us money while avoiding the health hazards of burning garbage.
This meeting will also be our social time together, so we ask those who want to participate to bring a plant-based dish to share with others for dinner before the meeting begins. Vegan meals provide the least impact to the planet while sharing food that we all have in common - food that comes from the earth.
Here's a link to Sierra Club's upcoming events:
https://campfire.sierraclub.org/campfire/clubeventlist
The Pot-Luck meal will begin at 5 pm, and the meeting will start at 6 pm, at Coral Gables Congregational Church, 3011 Columbus Blvd, Coral Gables, in the Fellowship Hall (west entrance).
Contact
bWlhbWktY2hhaXIgfCBmbG9yaWRhICEgc2llcnJhY2x1YiAhIG9yZw== for more info.
Also check out other Meetups in Coral Gables, Health & Wellness events in Coral Gables, Entertainment events in Coral Gables.
