Greens and advocates call for action on Brampton Incinerator

November 2, 2026

QUEEN'S PARK — Schreiner, Clancy and Steve Papagiannis of the BEA, are calling on the Ford government to keep Brampton safe from toxic air pollution.

“Under the Ford government the amount we recycle has gone down. Ontario has some of the worst rates of recycling in the country and our communities are the ones paying the price,” said Clancy.

“Brampton residents have been warning about the health and environmental impacts of the Emerald Incinerator for years. This government has ignored them.”

Emerald EFW, the company that owns the incinerator, was given the green light by the province to seek a permit for a massive expansion despite repeated calls from the community to conduct an environmental assessment first. 

Experts have warned that incinerators release an array of highly toxic chemicals that could cause serious health impacts for residents, especially young children. The pollutants may even make their way into our food systems. Further, the highly toxic ash by-product that remains after waste is incinerated must still be disposed of and can pose risks in transportation and storage.

“The Emerald incinerator is in the middle of a major metropolitan centre. It’s going to affect the quality of life of the residents in the GTA. This government must reconsider this expansion and focus on the real problem of reducing the amount of waste we produce in Ontario,” said Papagiannis.

“It’s not just Brampton. This government wants to ramp up incinerators across the province. It’s time for them to listen to communities and develop a waste management strategy that actually keeps people safe,” said Clancy.

“Ontario Greens echo Brampton Environmental Alliance’s call to introduce the proper safeguards, like monitoring and reporting mechanisms, to keep people safe from toxic air pollution. We will continue to fight for waste management alternatives and diversion strategies that actually support sovereignty, sustainability and affordability,” said Schreiner.

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