[Ed. note: What follows are Dr. Goldstein’s remarks to the Sullivan County Public Works Committee.]

My name is Dr. Steven Goldstein. This July, I celebrate 45 years in pediatrics. I work part-time for the Northwell Health System, and I dedicate my remaining energy to environmental initiatives that protect children and our planet. As a homeowner in White Lake, I was drawn here by the rural beauty, clean air and pristine waters. 

I serve as chair of Chapter 2 of the New York State American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Environmental Health and Climate Change and am a New York State Children’s Environmental Health Center Scholar. The opinions I express are my own.

I want to address the ill-considered proposal to bring a solid waste incinerator to Sullivan County. While companies market these facilities as “waste-to-energy” solutions, the reality is that their environmental impact is often greater and dirtier than that of a coal-burning power plant.

The promise of easy waste management and revenue is a pipe dream. Many communities have been burdened by “minimum waste guarantees” through contracts that force counties to pay even if they don’t produce enough trash. To meet these quotas, waste is often trucked in from elsewhere, increasing air pollution from diesel exhaust. History shows the danger of this path; a failed incinerator initiative played a role in the bankruptcy of Detroit.

As a pediatrician, my gravest concern is what this process releases into our environment. Incineration creates toxic ash that is far more dangerous than raw garbage. This ash contains “forever chemicals” like PFAS, PFOS and dioxins, and heavy metals like mercury. When these are released into the air or leach into groundwater, they enter our food supply.

These compounds are linked to cancer, reproductive harm and endocrine disruption. Children are at the highest risk. Because of their lower body weight, developing organs and proximity to the ground, small exposures can have lifelong consequences. We have a collective responsibility to protect the health of the next generation.

Furthermore, Sullivan County prides itself on hunting, fishing and tourism—industries that fuel our economy. New York State already warns that many bodies of water are contaminated; allowing an incinerator puts our local wildlife and recreational economy on the “endangered list.”

We must also look at the track record of Reworld, a company responding to the county’s request for proposals. It has a long history of environmental violations. In 2025, New York State fined it $558,000 for mishandling ash transport on Long Island. For many such companies, these fines are simply the cost of doing business, while local citizens pay the price with their health.

Finally, we must address environmental justice. New York designates disadvantaged communities based on their environmental burdens. In Sullivan County, this includes Liberty, Monticello, South Fallsburg and several others. Positioning an incinerator near these census tracts would compound existing vulnerabilities, disproportionately impacting minority and low-income residents.

The tide is turning against this technology. In 2025, California closed its last municipal incinerator. New York should follow that lead rather than poison its populace. There are sustainable waste management alternatives that do not carry these staggering health and financial risks, and I would be happy to provide resources on those solutions. 

In 2020, a team of 10 researchers with the Australian National University Medical School published a review paper about the health effects of incinerators. Their conclusion: “While the results were not consistent across the literature, based on a precautionary principle, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that any incinerator is safe.” (www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S132602002300732X

In summary: An incinerator in Sullivan County would be toxic to our future, our children and our solvency. It is time to close the book on incineration and seek smarter, safer solutions. 

Steven J. Goldstein, MD, lives in White Lake, NY.