I’m a resident of Baltimore City’s Pigtown neighborhood and the Environmental Justice Organizer at Progressive Maryland. In my role, I have connected with over a thousand residents from environmental justice communities in South Baltimore, particularly in neighborhoods like Cherry Hill, Brooklyn, Westport, and Pigtown, all of which are near the WIN Waste incinerator.

The majority of the South Baltimore residents I spoke with while going door-to-door in these neighborhoods were oblivious to two things: (1) they were unaware that incineration has been erroneously recognized as a tier 1 renewable energy source in Maryland's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) since 2011 and (2) they did not know that their monthly electricity payments were financing the WIN Waste incinerator. What they did know was that they were suffering from a variety of health issues like asthma and cancer. This is because the incinerator releases dangerous toxins such as carbon dioxide, heavy metals, and methane that cause severe health implications, as well as a decrease in life expectancy.

In February of this year, I joined frontline community members and coalition allies—including Clean Water Action, Progressive Maryland, Sunrise Movement, CASA, Food & Water Watch, and South Baltimore Community Land Trust—to challenge the baseless assertions of incineration as renewable at a rally held at Lawyers Mall in Annapolis, Maryland, outside of the Maryland General Assembly. Together, we rallied for the victims of air pollution and the financial injustices of incineration, boldly proclaiming, "WIN Waste, we are addressing you head-on" and “we will no longer tolerate cash for trash.”

A 2017 report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, titled "Why Should Baltimore Recycle More?" indicates that incineration is not a financially viable option for Baltimore ratepayers. The cost of recycling in Baltimore is approximately $18 per ton, whereas incinerating waste at the Wheelabrator facility in Baltimore costs nearly $50 per ton—almost three times higher. This creates a savings of $32 for every ton of waste that is recycled instead of incinerated, resulting in an estimated annual savings of around $800,000 based on the city's current recycling data. 

Moreover, most individuals I’ve conversed with in South Baltimore are advocating for improved recycling and composting systems in our city, as they recognize the potential for generating more green employment opportunities moving forward. Expanding composting infrastructure in Baltimore can create a new reality where low-income frontline communities gain access to sustainable and economically viable composting jobs. Research from the ILSR Composting for Community Initiative highlights the employment effects of various waste management methods, showing that composting facilities produce four times as many jobs per unit of waste compared to incinerators. In Maryland, for every 10,000 tons of compostable waste processed, composting generates around 4.1 full-time jobs, in contrast to 2.1 jobs at landfills and just 1.2 jobs at incineration plants.

Rhode Island, the state where I was born, understood early that incineration would pose an economic burden to both the state and its residents. Consequently, in July 1992, the Rhode Island State Senate enacted Act 92-S 2502 into law. 

With authentic, green options available, it is clear that the tipping point has been reached. It is imperative that we sever our connections to the hazardous practice of funding incineration by passing HB0220/SB0010 Reclaim Renewable Energy Act of 2025 which will remove waste incineration from our Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). 

I call on legislators to enact this bill to free ratepayers from the financial grip of incinerator companies and to protect our frontline communities in South Baltimore who are financing the deterioration of their neighborhoods through the current RPS.

- SirJames Weaver

Environmental Justice Organizer

South Baltimore Resident