Detroit Incinerator Shuts Down After Years of Controversy

Great Lakes Environmental Law Center Executive Director Nick Leonard joins Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson.

Jake Neher/WDET

It seemingly came out of nowhere on Wednesday — the facility known by most of us as the Detroit Incinerator closed abruptly and permanently after years of controversy.

Detroit Renewable Energy’s CEO said the facility was too old and too expensive to keep open.

Anyone who spends time anywhere near the incinerator knows the smell that wafts over surrounding areas of the city, and anyone who has looked at its effects on the environment and health can tell you this closure will likely improve the air quality in Detroit.

One of the people who’s been saying that for a long time now is Nick Leonard. He’s the executive director of the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center.

That group filed an intent to sue the facility under the Clean Air Act in late January.

Leonard joins Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson to talk about the facility’s closure and about some of the environmental questions moving forward.

Click on the audio player above to hear that conversation.

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  • Detroit Today
    Dynamic and diverse voices. News, politics, community and the issues that define our region. Hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Stephen Henderson, Detroit Today brings you fresh and perceptive views weekdays at 9 am and 7 pm.