Covanta operates the largest trash incinerator in the U.S. in Chester, PA. That plant uses the fewest pollution control devices of any incinerator in Pennsylvania and the fewest of any in their fleet of 39 incinerators. They lack the controls that remove nitrogen oxides from the air, which cause asthma, and lack the carbon injection devices common to many incinerators, which remove additional toxic metals and dioxins from the air.

In March 2009, when an EPA inspector (Ms. Horgan) asked Covanta’s Gene Bonner why they don’t have the pollution controls that their other plants have, Covanta responded that “it costs a lot of money” and would create “operational issues.” See this quote from page 11 in the full inspection report:

Out of 80 commercial trash incinerators in the U.S. operating as of 2014, 59 use carbon injection and 55 use some form of NOx controls:

Pennsylvania Incinerators:

Covanta Incinerators: