Incinerator on our doorstep?

The United Kingdom Without Incineration Network (UKWIN), in collaboration with Friends of the Earth, has produced an interactive map of existing and proposed household waste incineration sites. One of the 80 proposed new sites is definitely in our back yard – Transport Avenue in Brentford. That's the road that runs north from the Great West Road alongside the canal; there is a solid waste transfer site there already. The other proposal for West London is South Ruislip.

Energy from Waste and MBT (mechanical and biological treatment) are the two preferred options, and current transfer stations their preferred sites, although, according to a West London Waste Authority report “It may be that Brentford and South Ruislip may not be quite large enough to accommodate new plants of a scale to take all the waste that these sites currently deal with”.

In a recent press release, FoE reports that the Government has offered councils £2 billion in Private Finance Initiative credits to pay part of the costs of new waste management facilities, and many councils are planning to use this money to build new incinerators. (Under PFI a private company builds the incinerator and then leases it back to the authority.)

Incineration reduces landfill use and produces energy – so what's not to like?

UKWIN lists a number of reasons why incinerators are not welcome in anyone's back yard. Incineration:

• Depresses recycling and wastes resources

• Releases greenhouse gases (incinerators producing electricity from waste emit 33% more fossil fuel derived carbon dioxide than a gas fired power station.)

• Is often forced through against strong public opposition

• Relies on exaggerating future quantities of waste instead of strongly increased recycling and composting

• Creates toxic emissions and hazardous ash

• Poses significant health risks

EFoE member Nic Ferriday told the Hounslow Chronicle: “There is a PFI (Private Finance Initiative) proposed. This adds insult to injury. Not only could we get a noxious, greenhouse-gas-producing incinerator; we would pay more for the privilege in future years with a PFI.”

At the same time, the Government has cut the funds available for promotion of recycling by 30 per cent. ‘WRAP ordered to cut spending by 30%', Lets Recycle, 21st Feb. 2008.

To send an email to Joan Ruddock, the Minister responsible for waste, asking for investment in sustainable methods of waste disposal rather than incineration, go to http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/waste/press_for_change/expansion_incineration.html

To find out more about the reasons to oppose incineration, visit www.ukwin.org.uk

General information on recycling and waste management can be found at www.letsrecycle.com