This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The chemical depot near Stockton, used for the destruction of chemical warfare agents, is due to be dismantled soon. Instead of closing down the North Salt Lake Stericycle plant ("Med-waste firm to leave N. Salt Lake," Tribune, Oct 23), could it be moved into this facility?
It already has furnaces and quadruple safety back-up systems. I don't know if it has higher furnace temperatures to minimize the hazard potential, but incineration is a very common way to dispose of waste (hazardous or not). It not only neutralizes most pathogens, but minimizes the resulting landfill requirements (think ashes).
This facility also has duplicate filtering systems and reached out to the local community with safety communications and drills on what to do in emergencies. This community has already been exposed to living under the hazard potential of chemical warfare weapon destruction.
Incinerating medical wastes seems to be more benign. Using this facility seems to me to be a logical switch. Jobs would be saved and a valuable business would remain in Utah.
Marilyn Marshall
Salt Lake City