City Council hearing spotlights debate over Chester incinerator as waste-disposal contract nears

City Council members used Wednesday’s budget hearing to press the administration for details on the forthcoming solid-waste disposal procurement and to raise public-health concerns about the Chester (Reworld) incinerator.

Council members referenced a Delaware County life-cycle assessment presented to the committee that, according to council testimony, found incineration at the Chester plant produced 69% greater climate impact than landfilling and was ‘‘23 times as harmful’’ for combined public-health and environmental measures. Several members recited letters and testimony from children in Chester and environmental-justice advocates urging Philadelphia to avoid sending trash to the plant.

Director Carlton Williams told council the administration had reviewed Delaware County’s study and its staff ‘‘do not disagree with the emissions assessment’’ but said there are other analyses that reach different conclusions. Williams offered that the administration will include environmental-impact factors in the RFP evaluation and cited the Municipal Solid Waste Management Association report that frames thermal waste-to-energy technologies differently. He asked council members to share additional region-specific studies for review.

Council members pressed the administration for timing and cost estimates. Members said switching to a landfilling alternative could add roughly $6 million based on the figures cited during the hearing; administration officials said contract terms are complex and emphasized that the current contracted term is a guaranteed four years with a three-year renewable option, not a straight seven-year term. Williams and staff said they hope to present RFP materials in late spring or early summer and that they could request an extension on the current contract if additional evaluation time is required.

The exchange framed the contract decision as both a fiscal and an environmental-justice choice because the Chester facility is sited in a community advocates say already bears higher pollution burdens. Administration officials told council they are commissioning objective outside reviews (MSW consultants and community/environmental consultants) to inform the procurement criteria.

No final decision was made at the hearing. Council members asked the administration to provide the full Delaware County study and to send the administration’s additional analyses to council once completed so members have time to evaluate environmental impacts and pricing before a vote.