Incinerators: An Explanation

The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection maintains a database of all incinerators in the state. This list includes crematoria, trash, medical waste, and sewage sludge incinerators.

In Connecticut, there are 127 incinerators that are permitted to operate.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, trash incinerators are the number one source of dioxin and the number two source of mercury. Medical waste incinerators, according to the EPA, are the number two source of dioxin and the number four source of mercury.

Dioxin is a known human carcinogen and has been linked to reproductive an developmental disorders. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin which interferes with the normal brain development of fetuses and infants.