Safety of schools debated

NORTH SALT LAKE — The state of Utah isn't worried, but environmental groups Greenaction and the Sierra Club are. And on Wednesday night, North Salt Lake residents and parents of children planning to attend schools within a half mile of a medical-waste incinerator found out why.

And that was the whole point, said Crystal Folgmann, who has three school-age children and became concerned after reading a newspaper story about the incinerator, operated by Illinois-based Stericycle.

But after Wednesday's meeting, which included a panel discussion by Stericycle representatives, a North Salt Lake city councilman, state environmental quality managers and two environmental groups, questions still remain.

Folgmann said she felt numb after being inundated with so much information and plans to review a video recording of the meeting. Because the information hasn't hit home yet, she and her husband, Lee, haven't decided whether to keep their three children enrolled in the Legacy Preparatory Academy, a charter school slated to open this fall.

Folgmann said she's glad the meeting happened and that nearly all parties involved could attend.

Leaders from two yet-to-open local charter schools were invited to participate in the meeting but didn't attend.

From the state's perspective, though, things are fine.

"All data indicates that Stericycle is operating within federal and state health standards that include safety factors beyond levels used to protect humans," read a statement from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. "We do not believe there are any adverse health impacts."

The medical-waste incinerator is one of 72 still operating in the United States. Stericycle is the largest medical-waste disposal company in the nation. The North Salt Lake plant receives medical waste from surrounding states and is one of six regional plants operated by the company.

Selin Hoboy, a Stericycle vice president for environment and health, said her company is doing everything it can to make its operation as clean as possible. And the company is scheduled to spend $500,000 to make improvements, she said.

Bradley Angel, executive director of Greenaction, says that's not enough. Stericycle should switch technology from incineration to sterilization, he said. Incineration of medical waste isn't required by state statute but is permitted.

Miles Hansen, the North Salt Lake incinerator's director of environment and health, said he lives in the nearby Foxboro subdivision, built by Woodside Homes.

"I love working here. I would not put my kids in harm's way. I would not live here if I thought it was hazardous," he said.