|
|
|
SUFFOLK TOGETHER SAYS NO TO WASTE INCINERATORS
 |
Read the energy and waste blog by clicking here
We believe the County Council’s plans for a single incinerator to handle all of Suffolk’s waste and some of London’s are misguided. They involve a hugely expensive 30- year contract that can’t start before 2014 with a technology that may soon be out of date. Incineration is likely to conflict with the county’s own ambition to recycle 60% of total waste and still requires substantial disposal of toxic ash to landfill. There are cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative technologies that can produce energy from waste and these the council has not properly explored.
Our policy aim is to encourage waste reduction at source through less packaging and unnecessary use of plastic bags; to continue to encourage Suffolk’s excellent recycling and waste separation record and to deal with organic waste through smaller, cheaper, local anaerobic digesters, with little more waste going to landfill than the incineration process would produce and certainly with less possible health risks. |
|
Suffolk County Council’s proposal to build a giant incineration plant is to be vigorously fought by the Suffolk Together Party who are leading a campaign to oppose the plan.
Suffolk County Council’s proposal is to burn waste in a massive plant which would produce toxic greenhouse gases and dangerous waste material that pose a serious threat to health. The waste could be brought from as far away as London.
The heath impacts of burning waste are well documented. Leading British dioxin expert Professor Alistair Hay of Leeds University said: "This is not good news at all. Burning plastic containers, many of which are found in household rubbish is a particularly rich source of dioxins."
Shown below are maps showing the effects of on infant deaths downwind of waste incinerators. |
|
The towns of Ipswich, Woodbridge and Felixstowe lie to the east of the propsed site, i.e downwind and therefore in the path of toxic emissions.
"It is clear that there are serious and genuine concerns about the harmful effects on both health and countryside from incineration which is why many councils are now considering more environmentally friendly, safer options, that can also provide carbon-free electricity generation. There is no safe way to burn waste.” said Peter Welham, Deputy Chairman of Suffolk Together.
“These major environmental and health issues seem totally out of line with increasing concerns for the environment and Suffolk’s declared aim of being the greenest county in the UK.” |
|
| "While we accept that dumping waste in landfill sites is not the solution, the wholesale burning of waste producing massive amounts of CO2 and toxic gases cannot be the way forward. The right answer is to increase recycling and re-using materials and put emphasis on dramatically reducing packaging. Other approaches such as anaerobic digestion should also be seriously considered“ Welham continued.
As a result of widespread opposition, Norfolk County Council’s plan to build an incinerator at Costessey was halted and Suffolk Together believes the same should happen here. Suffolk Together is already in contact with other national and regional groups opposed to incineration and will be drawing on their experiences.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Privacy Policy | Terms of Use |
Copyright © 2009 Suffolk Together |
Published and promoted by Suffolk Together, Chairman & District Councillor : Michael Blakenham, Cottage Farm, Little Blakenham, Ipswich IP8 4LZ; District Councillor: Stephen Wright, Inghams Farm, Valley Road, Little Blakenham,Ipswich, IP84LR
Vice Chairman Peter Welham, The Rooks, Old Paper Mill Lane, Claydon, Ipswich IP6 0AL
Views expressed on this website are those of individuals and not necessarily those of the Suffolk Together party.
|
|
|
|