References & Further Reading
Below are independent, peer-reviewed and public reports that inform our community campaign and help residents understand the broader environmental, health, and policy context of waste incineration.
Each report is freely available for download.
Global & Climate Impacts
1. Tangri, N. (2023). Waste Incinerators Undermine Clean Energy Goals.
PLOS Climate Journal.
Findings show waste incinerators emit more greenhouse gases per unit of electricity (1,707 g CO₂/kWh) than coal, undermining clean-energy targets and contributing to air pollution in local communities.
[Download report]
2. Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA). (2018). Facts About “Waste-to-Energy” Incinerators.
Explains how incinerators consume more energy than they generate, produce 20–30 % toxic ash, and emit more CO₂ than coal while diverting funds from genuine renewable energy.
[Download report]
Health & Environmental Impacts
3. Tait, P.W. et al. (2020). The Health Impacts of Waste Incineration: A Systematic Review.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.
A review of 93 studies found links between incinerator exposure and increased rates of cancers, miscarriages, respiratory disease, and cardiovascular effects, supporting a precautionary approach.
[Download report]
4. ToxicoWatch Foundation & Zero Waste Europe. (2021). The True Toxic Toll: Biomonitoring on Incineration Emissions.
Bio-monitoring in Europe detected dioxins, PFAS, and PCBs in backyard eggs and vegetation near incinerators—levels exceeding EU food safety limits—showing persistent chemical exposure in surrounding communities.
[Download report]
Pollution & Microplastics
5. Yang, Z. et al. (2021). Is Incineration the Terminator of Plastics and Microplastics?
Journal of Hazardous Materials.
Demonstrates that incineration does not destroy plastics entirely—bottom ash still contains hundreds to thousands of microplastic particles per kilogram, creating a new form of pollution.
[Download report]
6. Björklund, K. et al. (2023). Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Waste Incineration.
Environmental Science & Technology.
Shows that PFAS—“forever chemicals”—survive high-temperature incineration and are released in air and ash, posing ongoing environmental and human health risks.
[Download report]
Victoria-Specific Context
7. Environment Victoria. (2021). Waste-to-Energy Incinerators: Greenwash at Best.
Details the five major Victorian proposals (Lara, Laverton North, Maryvale, etc.) and warns that incinerators would burn up to one million tonnes of waste annually, create tens of thousands of tonnes of toxic ash, and lock councils into 25-year waste contracts.
[Download report]
8. [Supplementary: Environmental Science Europe, 2023.] PFAS and Dioxin Behaviour During Incineration.
Summarises evidence that incinerators emit persistent organic pollutants (POPs) even under “optimal” operating conditions, reinforcing global concern about the adequacy of emission controls.
[Download report]
All reports are publicly available and shared for transparency.
We encourage residents to read the full studies and learn about the global evidence behind our concerns.