are concerned about mercury, lead, and other toxins produced from burning garbage. Covanta has simultaneously received awards for its positive impact on the environment, while being sued and seeing protests for its environmental impacts. A 2008 study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that waste-to-energy plants were better for the environment than landfills, in part because they reduced the methane garbage produced in landfills and reduced reliance on other fuels like coal. A study by Columbia University said if waste-to-energy was as popular in the United States as it is in Europe, the U.S. would reduce carbon emissions by 264 million tons annually. However, many environmentalists are skeptical about Covanta's claim that the steam emitted from a plant's furnace does not contain excess toxins. Some environmentalist distrust government monitoring of Covanta's emission stacks, and have lobbied for more regulation. Additionally, Covanta has been cited numerous times for exceeding air pollution standards. For example, one Covanta plant in Newark was cited for violating emission standards; in 2010, a related lawsuit was settled for $875,000, which was used for a local green space program. Similar problems have led to fines and settlements for mercury emissions in Florida, dioxin in Connecticut, and for hydrated lime in Dublin, Ireland. An academic from Columbia University has said most energy-from-waste emission criticisms are related to dated technology or misinformation. Covanta said its facilities are compliant with emission standards 99.9% of the time. Covanta works with local governments to safely dispose of prescription drugs. In 2014, there was a controversy about whether an Oregon Covanta facility was burning aborted fetuses and other human body parts as part of its medical waste. Covanta said its plant never received aborted fetuses as fuel. See also Essex County Resource Recovery Facility Delaware Valley Resource Recovery Facility Harrisburg incinerator References External links Official website Companies based in New Jersey Waste management companies of the United States