Demonstrators performed a 'die-in,' with about a dozen people lying on the ground at City Hall after coughing loudly to symbolize what they say are the health impacts of pollution from the Reworld Incinerator in Chester.
Chester residents urge Philadelphia to stop sending trash to city incineratorTuesday, April 7, 2026 10:35PMResidents from Chester rallied outside Philadelphia City Hall on Tuesday, calling on city leaders to end the practice of sending trash to the largest waste incinerator in the country, which is in Chester.
Members of Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living staged a protest as Philadelphia officials met inside to discuss upcoming waste disposal contracts. Demonstrators performed a "die-in," with about a dozen people lying on the ground at City Hall after coughing loudly to symbolize what they say are the health impacts of pollution from the Reworld Incinerator in Chester. "We have people who are literally dying," said Zulene Mayfield, chairperson of CRCQL. "Why should we be inundated with everybody else's pollution? You want a cleaner, greener Philadelphia, but you want to trash us!" The protest was in support of the Stop Trashing Our Air Act, a piece of Philadelphia legislation introduced by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier. The measure would require the city to stop sending waste to the Chester facility. "This is about people's right to breathe clean air," Gauthier said. She added that "this air doesn't stop at the border. Philadelphians are breathing the same toxic air that Chester residents are." City officials are currently negotiating new waste disposal contracts, which expire at the end of June. Carlton Williams, Philadelphia's director of Clean and Green Initiatives, told councilmembers that environmental impact will be considered alongside factors like cost.He noted that the city has added an environmental assessment component to look at the impact of incineration. About one-third of Philadelphia's trash currently goes to the Chester incinerator. Two-thirds of the trash goes to a landfill.The Stop Trashing Our Air Act passed committee but has not been introduced to the full City Council. City leaders have not announced when they will vote on new trash disposal contracts.Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
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