Unmindful of the fact that Tokyo is referred to as the Dioxins capital of the world, back from Tokyo, Delhi's Urban Development Minister is planning to introduce incineration of waste, after the segregation of the
garbage to improve waste management in the city. He seems ignorant of the fact that waste incineration is contrary to Kyoto Protocol, Stockholm Convention and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)'s recommendations because it is one of the emitters of green house gases and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and Mercury.

World governments have concluded an agreement on reducing production and use of the toxic heavy metal mercury on 25th February 2005 in Nairobi, Kenya at United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP)'s Governing Council Meeting. Kyoto Protocol has entered into force from 16 February 2005.

Green house gases are polluting and cause global warming. POPs such as dioxins are cancer causing and as per World Health Organisation, foetuses are most sensitive to dioxin exposure. Some individuals or groups of individuals may be exposed to higher levels of dioxins because of their occupations (e.g. incineration plants and hazardous waste). Mercury causes damage to the nervous systems of babies, as well as insomnia, skin rashes and dermatitis, memory loss, mental disturbances, kidney damage and other ill effects.

Kyoto Protocol mentions waste management, but investors and promoters of incineration technologies into India are taking advantage of Article 10 (c) of Kyoto, which seeks to facilitate transfer of or access to environmentally sound technologies pertinent to climate change. In fact the Protocol lists waste incineration as one of the sources of green house gases. What is being ignored is that after segregation (since it has rightly been mentioned), there is no need for incineration in any case because organic waste can be composted and recyclables can be recycled. Delhi Government's plan is a result of the unawareness of glaring scientific studies against such projects. The studies point out that the incineration process produces considerable amount of dioxin, one of the most toxic chemicals known to be a carcinogen. Technologies like incineration emit several harmful contaminants. The Minister's assertions are not backed by scientific research.

Having failed in its first Timarpur experiment with the Waste to Energy project based on burning of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) in 1990s at a huge loss to the Government, a court case, this is yet another instance of ignoring environment and public health despite evidence of technology dumping that imperils the citizens well being. Ash from the combustion technologies also creates more toxic problems. It is surprising that the Government is so callous towards the recommendations of the Supreme Court constituted committee on waste management to compost Indian waste.

It would be in the fitness of things if the Government went through the findings of non-burn technology advocates and the benefits of alternative
sustainable methods of waste disposal before promoting any polluting technology, which has adverse impact on both the environment and the recycling workers.