Veolia

Terrance Taylor, a resident of East St. Louis, watches on as EPA representatives host a meeting for community feedback on Monday, April 15, 2024, in Cahokia Heights, Ill. Taylor is a community advocate and vice president of Community Development Sustainable Solutions, a local nonprofit based in East St. Louis.

Metro East residents demand transparency from Veolia during air pollution permit renewal

Kate Grumke

The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking input from the public as it considers the company’s application for a Clean Air Act permit renewal.

An environmental activists holds a kites with a messages supporting a ban on PFAS incineration in front of industrial complexes in Sauget on April 22, 2021. After a similar bill was vetoed last year, environmental groups plan to introduce legislation that would ban the burning of the toxic class of chemicals.

Health, Science & Environment

It’s now illegal in Illinois to incinerate toxic chemicals known to cause cancer

Kelsey Landis

Lawmakers and environmental advocates raised concerns about the potential for PFAS chemicals to be burned in the Metro East.

A deconstructed windmill blade sits on a tractor trailer

Health, Science & Environment

How to recycle a 150-foot wind turbine blade? Haul it to Louisiana, MO

Shahla Farzan

The wind energy industry is now facing a new challenge: what to do with old wind turbine blades when it’s time to replace them.

Health, Science & Environment

Illinois environmentalists again push for the state to ban burning of toxic PFAS

Eric Schmid

A nearly identical bill unanimously passed the Illinois House and Senate last year, but Gov. J.B. Pritzker vetoed it. Now environmental groups are starting the whole process over.

The Center for Disease Control will conduct an investigation into pollution from the Veolia North American-Trade Waste Incineration facility in Sauget.

Government, Politics & Issues

It Could Soon Be Illegal For Sauget Company To Burn Group Of Chemicals Linked To Cancer

Kelsey Landis

It could soon be illegal for Illinois companies to incinerate a class of potentially cancer-causing substances known as “forever chemicals” because they accumulate in the body and environment without breaking down.

Members of Join Hands ESL hold kites with messages supporting a ban on PFAS incineration in front of industrial complexes in Sauget on April 22. A bill in the Illinois House would ban the burning of the toxic class of chemicals.

Health, Science & Environment

Metro East Environmentalists Call For Illinois Lawmakers To Ban Burning Toxic Class Of Chemicals

Eric Schmid

The bill by Rep. LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, advanced on Wednesday, and would prohibit disposing of any PFAS through burning.

Health, Science & Environment

Sen. Duckworth Wants EPA To Install Metal Emission Monitors At Sauget Incinerator

Eric Schmid

The Illinois senator wants to know how much arsenic, cadmium, lead and other metals the plant puts into the air.

Other

CDC To Investigate Whether Sauget Incinerator Is Poisoning Air With Heavy Metal Emissions

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will investigate whether a waste incinerator is poisoning people in Sauget.A federal agency within the CDC…

Health, Science & Environment

Air-quality plan for Metro East incinerator may relax heavy-metal monitoring requirements

Eli Chen

This story has been updated to include comments from the EPA.The Environmental Protection Agency could loosen its requirement that an East St. Louis…

Health, Science & Environment

Environmental groups demand stronger air quality controls for Metro East incinerator

Eli Chen

Environmental and faith groups are calling for the Environmental Protection Agency to increase air monitoring around a hazardous waste incinerator in East…