INCINERATOR ACTION ALERT!!!

Sullivan County has issued a Draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for companies to submit proposals for a “Waste-to-Energy” facility (an incinerator) to be built in Sullivan County on the site of the old landfill in Monticello.

While this is not technically a comment period, there is only one company that has expressed interest so far in building this facility. The company is Reworld, (formerly known as Covanta). They are a huge trash-burning company with a reputation of numerous environmental violations, and who were also subject of a whistleblower lawsuit.  We want to make sure that the final RFP is not drafted to give them any preferential treatment, and to shut down this route to solving the county’s solid waste disposal concerns. There are many more viable options.

Would you help flood the county with comments against this project? Please submit comments by 3pm EST on Friday, August 22, 2025

• Send Email to: Purchasing Department at Purchasing@Sullivanny.gov
• Deadline: 3pm EST, Friday 8/22/25
• Use THIS as the Subject Line: #R-25-21, Waste to Energy

Email content:

This is a very simple example that you can use as is, or add your own thoughts to:

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is ______________, and I reside/own property/visit/have a business/have family/vacation/etc. in Sullivan County.

I am writing to express my concern over Sullivan County’s decision to open a Draft RFP for a “Waste-to-Energy” (incinerator) facility within the county. An incinerator will harm the area economically, environmentally and put the citizens at a great health risk.

Please rescind this RFP right away!

If you’d like to add more content to your email – great! There are lots of facts and concerns about “Waste-to-Energy” facilities on our website.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions to dcs@damascuscitizens.org or call us at 845-252-6677.

Additional Information

INCINERATORS THREATEN HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Waste incinerators are major emitters of pollutants, including toxic “forever chemicals,” such as PFAS, that cause a host of diseases. Rates of include certain cancers, heart disease, and reproductive disorders, among others, are higher in communities living within two miles of an incinerator. Per unit of energy, incinerators discharge more air pollution than coal plants and more greenhouse gases than any other power source.

INCINERATORS ARE EXPENSIVE TO BUILD AND OPERATE
Sullivan County’s Draft Local Solid Waste Management Plan projects that a “waste-to-energy” incinerator would cost over $146 million. Taxpayers always wind up footing the bill for these facilities. Contracts invariably require municipalities to provide a certain amount of waste each year, leading to a need to import trash. The city’s costly incinerator is the primary reason Detroit went bankrupt. The same thing happened in Harrisburg.

Scientific Findings on Trash Incinerator Health Impacts