Anti-Waste Incineration Group Announces Campaign Plans for BC Municipal Election, Debuts New Mascot "Mr. Burns"

VANCOUVER, Sept. 16, 2014 /CNW/ - The Burn Free BC Coalition unveiled its new mascot "Mr. Burns," today out front of Metro Vancouver's annual Zero Waste conference. This is the first of many appearances as Mr. Burns will be a mainstay at Lower Mainland municipal election events to raise awareness and holding politician's feet to the fire over the controversial plan by Metro Vancouver to build a $520 million waste incinerator.

"Politicians running in this municipal election will have to make a choice about whether they support Metro Vancouver's plan to spend $520 million of taxpayers money on a massive waste incinerator that will burn recyclable materials and, according to the leading air quality scientists, pump more smog into our airshed," said Burn Free BC lead spokesperson Kevin Grandia. "Like Mr. Floatie, the famous election mascot fighting raw sewage being pumped off the coast of Vancouver Island, we aim to make Mr. Burns a well-known character fighting Metro Vancouver's backwards plan to burn recycled goods."

Metro Vancouver, and its Board Chair Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore, have come under heavy pressure as opposition mounts amongst fellow city councillors and mayors, business leaders and concerned citizen and environment groups. The BC Chamber of Commerce and other major business groups have spoken out about the planned $520 million project, calling it a bad deal for local businesses that would like to provide alternative solutions to burning the region's garbage. The City of Coquitlam has raised concerns about the economic viability of the plan.

"Politicians do not want to talk about this issue during the election. They want it to go away while they run for re-election. Afterall, who wants to have to tell voters they support a plan that is based on shaky economic assumptions, will see more smog in our air, cost hundred-of-millions of taxpayers dollars and burns paper and plastic instead of increasing recycling efforts," asks Grandia, who was named a Green Hero by Rolling Stone magazine and lives with his family in the Fraser Valley. "This election, we, with Mr. Burns in tow, are going to make sure every voter knows about every municipal candidate who supports this plan."

More information about Burn Free BC and images of Mr. Burns can be found at: www.metrovancouverincinerator.com

SOURCE: Burn Free BC

For further information:

Contact:  
Kevin Grandia
p: 778-878-6606
e: [email protected]