Stericycle is one of 72 medical-waste incinerators still operating in the United States, according to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Nine years ago, approximately 2,400 such incinerators were in operation across the nation, but most have shut down in recent years due to increased state and federal regulation and outcry from residents. The North Salt Lake plant receives waste from surrounding states like Arizona and California and is one of six regional plants operated by the Illinois-based company.

A representative from Stericycle did not return a call for comment late Thursday. But during Tuesday's public meeting, Selin Hoboy, a Stericycle vice president, said her company is scheduled to spend $500,000 to make improvements to the plant. Those improvements include a possible update to its generator system to avoid bypasses during power outages.

Bradley Angel, executive director of the environmental watchdog group Greenaction, said Thursday that in the next few weeks, he will be talking with residents and announcing steps to get Stericycle to close its incinerator in North Salt Lake.

Greenaction will also be encouraging other states to stop sending waste to the plant, Angel said. And work will be done to see if the plant can use a sterilization technology instead of incineration.

"Information is very powerful, and knowledge is very powerful," he said. "Now we have many residents and parents who are sending their kids to schools in this area that are not happy with this new knowledge and not happy with an incinerator in close proximity."

Later this month, one new charter school, Spectrum Academy, will open doors within a half-mile of Stericycle. In October, a second charter school, the Legacy Preparatory Academy, will open doors. Legacy Preparatory is across the street from a sewage-treatment plant.

Shelly Carter, president of the board over Spectrum Academy, said in an e-mail Thursday that the school, which will serve high-functioning autistic children, is investigating Stericycle and will work to address parents' concerns.

---

E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com