In 1986, Philadelphia was dumping its waste incinerator ash in Ohio, but local opposition forced the city to terminate that arrangement. That year, the City of Brotherly Love dumped 4,000 tons of incinerator ash on a Haitian beach, where it sat for more than 10 years polluting the local environment and causing myriad public health problems. A year later, the infamous garbage barge from Islip, Long Island in New York, sailed down the east coast looking for a site to unload.

Industry giants can impact elections with their campaign contributions and, as a result, legislation that affects them. Consider the case of Virginia. Between 1997 and 2000, the trash industry donated nearly $400,000 to Virginia candidates. During the same period, bills that would have stunted the trash industry’s growth died in the Virginia legislature, while bills to protect its markets became law. In 1999, out-of-state garbage flowing to Virginia increased by 43% as compared to the previous year.


[link to www.ilsr.org]