Incineration Decision Sets Back Action on Recycling, Pollution And Climate Change

West London Waste Authority (WLWA) has won the first round in its court case against the Mayor. If the decision is upheld on appeal, it means WLWA will be allowed to incinerate waste instead of using more environmentally friendly options.

Margaret Salasidis, waste campaigner for West London Friends of the Earth based in Richmond, said "We are extremely disappointed at the court decision to allow West London's waste to be incinerated.  West London Friends of the Earth is in full support of the Mayor's appeal against this decision. Waste of resources, emission of toxic gases and climate changing emissions from incinerators have no place in modern waste management strategies."

"WLWA failed to address the issue of residual waste and has responded with the easy option. But any incinerator contract will inhibit 
recycling and in the longer run it will increase council tax payers' bills and cost their environment dear."

The Mayor is pressing the Government to allow him to take control of London's waste via a single waste authority with the aim of making sure that it is disposed of by modern and safe methods.

Bernard Burns, campaigner for West London Friends based in Harrow, said "We applaud the Mayor for setting minimum standards. It is incredible that WLWA has been fighting for the right to incinerate waste without first removing recyclables, without using state of the art emission limiting equipment and without making use of the waste heat. Without minimum standards, incineration is often worse than landfill." 

 If combined heat and power is not used, incinerators produce electricity at very low efficiency, and contribute to climate change. 
The European Commission has argued that "At low energy efficiencies incineration might not be more favourable than landfill."
Government research also shows inefficient incinerators to be worse than landfill. One report estimated the environmental and health costs of landfill to be £10 per tonne, and incineration (with energy recovery) to be £13 to £14 per tonne of municipal solid waste.
Source: West London FoE Press release