Gabon’s Dirty Secret: The Incinerator That’s Polluting Our Planet
A Problem Hidden in Plain Sight
For years, environmental activists have warned about the alarming rate of climate change and air pollution globally. However, it seems that Africa’s eco-haven, Gabon, harbors a hidden secret that goes against the eco-friendly narrative the country touts. Gabon’s main hub, Port-Gentil, is home to a polluting incinerator that threatens not only the well-being of locals but the health of our entire planet.
The Problem Begins
In an effort to meet the demand for electricity and deal with municipal solid waste, a private company constructed an incinerator in 2011 near Port-Gentil’s fishing port. Though initially seen as a solution for waste management and energy production, the facility soon became notorious for its blatant disregard for environmental laws and public safety.
Hidden Dangers of Incineration
Incinerators, designed to burn trash into energy, rely on extreme heat to convert solid waste into electric power. Despite their popularity among governments looking for quick-fix waste solutions, such incineration processes can harm the environment drastically. Some hidden dangers of incineration include:
- Particulate matter pollution: Toxic and carcinogenic ash particles release massive amounts of small particles, respirable PM, into the atmosphere, further burdening urban smog and regional air pollution levels.
- End-of-pipe, not true end-of-pipe: Though solid waste appears removed, its environmental impact continues because incinerators often omit incomplete combustion and dioxins/ furans contaminants, creating airborne pollutants.
The Incinerator’s Rampant Abuse of Regulations
Critics charge the incinerator with brazen disregard for eco-friendly norms in Gabon, exemplified by irregular maintenance and absence of public audits. There isn’t enough assurance that safety monitoring systems or reliable waste monitoring have been adequately conducted. A pattern of subjugation by regulations has persisted and continues.
**The Real-life Consequences for the Gabonese Population and the Global Communit
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