What's wrong with incineration?

• The burner-incinerator emissions, too small to see, are called PM2.5 particulates. They can pass into the deepest part of your lungs.
• Incinerator chimneys spread the damage at least 15 miles away
• Pollution from incinerators can double the effects of existing pollution

Incinerator emissions have been linked to:

• Birth defects and infant mortality
• Autism, Multiple Sclerosis, ADHD and a rise in learning difficulties
• Asthma and other respiratory diseases and infections
• Heart disease, arteriosclerosis, strokes and other heart problems
• Diabetes, endometriosis and hypothyroidism
• Allergies and arthritis
• M.E, depression (associated with higher incidence of suicides downwind)
• Various cancers

Environmental damage:

• Incineration leaves toxic waste which requires expensive disposal in specialist landfill sites
• Heavy traffic to and from the incinerator will greatly increase, including transport of toxic ash
• Incinerators have to burn 24/7 so recyclables and toxic business waste are likely to be burned to keep it going
• Increased CO2 emissions
  

What’s the plan?

Shropshire Waste Partnership (SWP) is the body responsible for collecting and disposing of household waste on behalf of 5 Shropshire councils. SWP has signed a 27-year contract with Veolia Environmental Services to manage the waste. Shropshire County Council is obliged by the terms of the contract to support Veolia’s application for planning permission for building the burner incinerator.

Imagine what life was like 27 years ago – no internet, no PCs, disposable nappies a new invention, little environmental awareness. Everything is changing fast: Shropshire’s recycling figures are going through the roof, burner incinerators are causing concern across the country, manufacturers and retailers are reducing packaging, new, safer technologies are being developed to deal with waste. Why is our council laying our health on the line for the next 27 years?

What are the alternatives?

Autoclaving: This sterilises the waste with steam and pressure. The organic fraction could have a number of uses depending on the quality of the material and the markets available e.g. land-spreading, fibre or fuel. There will be some residue sent to landfill.

Integrated Recycling Plants (IRP): An industrialised system of recycling and composting which has been designed to deal with a mixed domestic waste stream. Already widely in use in Europe and the United States. Reports suggest that it is a cost-effective, safe and effective waste strategy.

Anaerobic Digestion (AD): This treatment uses bacteria to break down organic material without oxygen. The process produces a biogas (mainly methane) and a digestate, or residue. Depending on the quality of the input material the residue produced may be suitable for composting, or it may only be suitable for landfill cover or as use as a fuel.

Plasma Gasification: This runs on electricity and produces vitrified gravel, hydrogen and electricity – all for sale – and has very low emissions. Cost per ton is £23. Incinerators cost £63 plus an estimated £67 per ton of health damage.

Can it be stopped?

Anti-incinerator groups have stopped incinerators being built in Kidderminster, Wrexham, Norwich, Belfast, Guildford and Essex, among other places

We can stop it in Shropshire too!