Context:
The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) Asia Pacific, in collaboration with other environmental organisations, has called on the ASEAN to take decisive action in response to plastic pollution.
Relevance:
GS: International Relations
Dimensions of the Article:
- About Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA)
- What is Incineration?
About Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA)
Overview:
- GAIA is a global alliance comprising over 1,000 grassroots organizations, non-governmental entities, and individuals from more than 90 countries.
Mission:
- GAIA strives to facilitate a shift from the prevailing linear and extractive economy to a circular system that upholds people’s rights to a safe and healthy environment.
Vision:
- The organization envisions a just, zero-waste world grounded in respect for ecological boundaries and community rights.
- GAIA aims for a future where individuals are liberated from the hazards of toxic pollution and resources are conserved sustainably rather than being incinerated or discarded.
Approach:
- GAIA focuses on combating pollution and fostering regenerative solutions in urban areas through local campaigns, policy and finance transformations, research and communication initiatives, and movement building.
Primary Intervention Areas:
- GAIA concentrates its efforts on four key areas: incineration, zero waste, plastic pollution, and climate change.
What is Incineration?
Definition:
- Incineration is the process of burning hazardous materials at high temperatures to eliminate contaminants.
Incinerator:
- The process takes place in a specialized furnace known as an “incinerator,” designed specifically for burning hazardous waste in a controlled combustion chamber.
Materials Treated:
- A variety of hazardous materials, including soil, sludge, liquids, and gases, can be treated through incineration.
Limitations:
- While incineration effectively destroys many harmful chemicals like solvents, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), and pesticides, it does not eliminate metals such as lead and chromium.
Modern Incinerators:
- Contemporary incinerators are equipped with air pollution control devices, such as fabric filters, scrubbers, and electrostatic precipitators, to remove fly ash and gaseous contaminants.
-Source: Down To Earth
