Waste management has been a longstanding issue in the United States, beginning around World War II due to a rise in consumerism and single use, disposable products (Baptista & Perovich, 2019; Louis, 2004; Melosi, 1985). Modern day waste management practices utilize landfills and waste incinerators, and more recently, recycling programs (Holmström, 2018; Mock, 2015). The federal government has since implemented regulations and acts attempting to ensure the safety of waste management emissions and disposal practices, which are largely managed by private companies contracting with state and municipal governments (Baptista & Perovich, 2019; Louis, 2004). Some federal acts that regulate waste management byproducts include the 1988 Ocean Dumping Ban Act and the 1990 Maximum Achievable Control Technology standards (Baptista & Perovich, 2019). However, as the U.S. population grows and waste production increases, waste incinerators remain a problem rather than a solution (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2023).
In some states, waste incinerators have been reclassified as “renewable waste to energy” plants, since they can generate small amounts of electricity (Baptista & Perovich, 2019; Donahue, 2018). Throughout its operation, the MIRA incinerator was known as a waste-to-energy plant. New data has shown that “renewable waste to energy” is in fact a misnomer, as waste incinerators use more energy than they generate (Baptista & Perovich, 2019; Donahue, 2018). Incinerator disposal practices are also not well documented, and due to the individualized and privatized nature of these facilities, emissions reports can be easily falsified (Bihari et al., 2023). Waste incinerators also release toxic pollutants into the air, which can make their way into local ecosystems (Bihari et al., 2023; Van Velzen et al., 2002; Wright et al., 2018). These harmful byproducts can cause respiratory illness, cancer, and reproductive issues in humans (Baptista & Perovich, 2019; Chakraborty, 2011; Karlson, 2020). While some opposing studies claim that high levels of heavy metals are removed from emissions and do not impact surrounding communities (Van Velzen et al., 2002), many of these waste incinerators are decades-old and past their recommended functioning age, requiring significant, costly upkeep (Baptista & Perovich, 2019).
Waste management is an especially significant issue in the state of Connecticut. During its 30 years of operation, the MIRA incinerator burned 600,000 tons of waste per year from over 70 towns in Connecticut (Almquist, 2024; Skahill, 2020). Despite the closure of the MIRA incinerator, state and local governments haven’t implemented any remediation projects, and Hartford residents aren’t even told where their waste is going on official city websites (Hartfordct.gov, 2025). Waste management solutions are needed now more than ever, due to their harmful nature and negative impacts on marginalized communities, especially in the city of Hartford.
Communities near waste incinerators like the MIRA incinerator are faced with both significant health risks and environmental hazards. Waste incinerators pose such dangers because of their release of harmful pollutants and chemicals into the air, bodies of water, and surrounding environments. Incinerators emit particulate matter, dioxins, furans, heavy metals (e.g., lead and mercury), nitrogen dioxide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), all which have been shown to negatively affect the environment and human health (Baptista & Perovich, 2019). Dioxins and furans are associated with cancer, immune system damage, and developmental issues (Milanzi et al., 2021; Wright et al., 2018). Heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, and lead also contribute to neurological and developmental problems, especially in children (Baptista & Perovich, 2019). Additionally, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and VOCs are associated with increased cases of respiratory issues and cardiovascular disease, and exacerbate pre-existing conditions like asthma (Bullard, 2000; Covert, 2016).
The short-term impacts of exposure to emissions from incinerators can include respiratory problems, irritation of the eyes and throat, headaches, and nausea, often observed in individuals living or working near these facilities. Over the long term, the health effects are more severe, including chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular conditions, developmental and reproductive harm, and increased cancer risks (Balazs & Morello-Frosch, 2013; Baptista & Perovich, 2019). The cumulative exposure to pollutants over years and decades can lead to systemic health conditions, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations (Bullard & Johnson, 2000; Jacoby et al, 2018; Mitchell, 2020). Waste incineration also produces carbon dioxide (CO2), contributing to climate change (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 2022), which itself most harshly impacts vulnerable communities worldwide.
When the MIRA incinerator’s waste-to-energy operations were active, pollutants such as particulate matter and dioxins were likely released into the local environment. Given the MIRA incinerator’s proximity to Hartford’s communities of marginalized populations, the health consequences facing primarily low-income and people of color reinforces the cycle of environmental and social justice issues (Bean 1979; Bullard, 2000; Kim & Crowley, 2023; Loh & Sugerman-Brozan, 2002; Pais et al., 2014, Morello-Frosch et al., 2002, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2023). Despite older studies finding that waste facilities have no relation to surrounding demographics (Oakes et al.; 1996), affected areas in the U.S. continue to feel health impacts, and mobilize to shut down local waste incinerators (Muller, 2017; Tigue, 2016).
In Hartford, then health director Dr. Mark A. Mitchell, observed increasing numbers of cancer and respiratory conditions especially amongst Black and Hispanic populations (Mitchell, 2020). Citing the location of polluting industries such as the state’s largest landfill and waste incinerator, Dr. Mitchell founded the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice, linking environmental hazards and health impacts to advocate for policy changes (Mitchell, 2020). Indeed, Hartford was ranked 36th out of the 100 largest cities in the U.S. on the 2024 Asthma Capitals List (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 2024). Remediation processes therefore must address not only the environmental cleanup of contaminated areas, but also the health impacts faced by nearby residents. In the discussion of solutions, environmental justice scholars argue that the community most directly impacted must be invited to be involved in the decision-making, whether it be reparations addressing environmental racism or alternatives to incineration (Benson, 2018; Mock, 2015; Bean, 1979). The broader findings from environmental justice research highlight the need for comprehensive waste management strategies that prioritize public health, community involvement, and sustainable alternatives to incineration (Bullard, 2000; Baptista & Perovich, 2019).