SIX NATIONS – The longer the wait for air quality testing to be done on the demonstration model of the Kearns Disintegration System, which is temporarily installed at the Six Nations landfill, the higher the piles of household waste get, and both Chief Ava Hill and the machine’s inventor John Kearns are getting frustrated.
After being unceremoniously sent packing by a group of Six Nations residents concerned that his machine might be polluting the Six Nations’ air, Kearns returned to Nova Scotia. He has been working to complete the deal between himself and the Elected Council for the purchase of a custom built unit to suit Six Nations’ particular needs, both now and into the future. As a result of the lack of consensus from the community and the ensuing challenges, Kearns now feels it necessary to involve his lawyer in the situation to speak on his behalf in any future dealings with the Elected Council.
Chief Ava Hill summarized the situation saying, “I want to reiterate that council is committed to have the machine tested. We now find that the burner needs to be repaired before testing can begin. We are now talking with Mr. Kearns through his lawyer so we can get that burner repaired and we can do the testing. We have some bids from companies to test the air emissions.”
She goes on to say that her council has not yet made the decision to purchase the Kearns machine.
“Depending on the outcome of this test, we will get into negotiations with Kearns if that’s what it leads to.
“Unfortunately this has become a long, drawn out process and I know council and myself are very frustrated with it, and we hope that things can speed up because we really need to do something with our garbage here.”
She also states that her council has met with AW recycling and they have asked council to impress upon the community again how important it is that everybody recycle.
Although the most successful recycling efforts in communities in North America have reduced the amount of garbage entering landfill sites significantly, it cannot deal with all waste, and therefore, a solution in handling those items that recycling can not affordably eliminate is still necessary.
Two Row Times spoke with Kearns from his home in Nova Scotia where he awaits an invitation back to Six Nations to conduct the testing.
“We are ready to come back and get that machine back up and running in preparation for the testing,” he said Sunday afternoon. But due to reported threats against himself and his machine made by some of the group opposed to his machine, he is insisting that assurances be given to protect he and his workers when they return to get it ready.
“I am concerned for the welfare of my employees, and the safety of my machine,” he said.
Once those assurances are in place, he is ready, willing and able to return to oversee the tests and complete the transaction.
While many noted experts and environmentalists warn of dangerous emissions found with standard incineration technology, Kearns insists that he has documented support from other experts who have seen and examined his technology. Kearns says that his technology is different from any other “incineration” unit today, and should not be compared to standard incineration models. Previous air quality tests have been done as well, which support his claims.
CUTLINE:
Kearns waste disintegrating machine still sits idle awaiting air quality tests. It was shut down by a group of concerned citizens who believe that the process emits dangerous elements into the environment. Testing on the model temporality installed at the Six Nations landfill site is to begin sometime soon, however that date has not been set by Band Council. Kearns welcomes the testing and will return under certain conditions to complete the $4 million transaction.