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OAKLAND — The state’s lone commercial medical waste incinerator continues to spew toxins into the air, according to critics of the plant who want the burning sharply cut back. 

Residents of east Oakland say the dioxin produced by Integrated Environmental Systems is poisoning the neighborhood, despite the company’s claim that the emission output is far below state and federal limits. 

“This facility is poisoning the people of Oakland,” said Katie Silberman, of the city’s Center for Environmental Health. 

IES responds that it is handling waste materials in an environmentally responsible manner. 

“If we have a safe and effective process that meets all the standards, why shouldn’t we continue?” said IES general manager Jim Bateman. 

An agreement could be reached this week where IES would burn less waste, but not stop the process completely. 

The plant receives medical waste for processing through burners six days per week. 

The nine other medical waste facilities in the state use steam sterilization or microwaving techniques before shredding the refuse and shipping it to landfills. 

IES burned 5,000 tons of medical waste last year. 

Many of the plastics that are burned contain polyvinyl chloride, which creates dioxin when burned. Opponents of the incineration process say those syringes could be recycled by sterilization and reused. 

IES upgraded its system in 1996 to meet the air district’s tough emission standards, but still has racked up more than 100 violations of its air permit since then.