Surrey Surrey County Council has recently turned down two proposed incinerators infavour of anaerobic digestion, two small gasification plants and a target of 70%recycling by 2013.[Compare this with Defra's unambitious target of 50% by 2020. Meanwhile, San Francisco's recycling is currently at 72% and the city is aiming for Zero Wasteby 2020!!
http://www.sfenvironment.org/our_programs/overview.html?ssi=3]
The report below, from Surrey County Council's website,
http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/sccwebsite/sccwspages.nsf/LookupWebPagesByTITLE_RTF/Surrey+County+Council+drops+incineration+plans?opendocument points a way forward for all councils that go against incineration.
That definitely needs to include Shropshire!
[We should point out that we would have reservations about gasification, preferring a 'no-burn' solution.]
Come on, Shropshire!
County Council today announced that there are no longer plans to buildEnergy from Waste (EfW) incinerators in Surrey. Outlining the council's new waste strategy plans, Leader of the Council Dr Andrew Povey said: "I am very pleased to announce that we are scrapping plans for any EfW incinerators in Surrey. Today I will be instructing that the planning applications for incinerators at Capel and Trumps Farm be withdrawn.
"With our help, and that of our partners, our residents are now doing so well at producing less waste and recycling more that we are in a position to look at alternative methods of dealing with our waste and saving both money and ourcountryside."
The way to achieve this is by diverting waste from landfill. The practice is not only destructive to our landscape and environment but the taxation on landfill alone currently costs us over £7 million per year. This tax is increasing at an alarming rate and will have almost doubled by 2013. If we don't act now the Surrey taxpayer could be paying as much as £13m annually in landfill tax alone within four years, so our goal is to avoid putting any waste in landfill by then."
The council's new approach to waste will concentrate on reducing the amount of waste Surrey produces, encouraging people to reuse things where they can and recycle as much as possible after that. The new plans will lead to a reductionin the amount of household waste dealt with every year by 35,000 tonnes, enough to fill the Royal Albert Hall 14 times. As a result the county will be making substantial savings in waste disposal costs by 2013. Minimising waste alone will result in estimated savings of £3.5 million per year in disposal costs.
Cabinet Member for the Environment Lynne Hack said: "A key element of the county council's new waste vision is an Eco Park, which would be the first of its kind in the country. It would incorporate a range of waste treatment facilities, an innovation centre to look at and develop the latest technologies and an education centre open to all. "The proposed location is the existing waste management facility at Charlton Lane, Shepperton, which has been in waste management use for many years.
The buildings would be designed sympathetically to fit in with the surrounding area and would look much more attractive than the existing development. There would be a reduction in traffic compared with the existing operation."
The Eco Park would include an anaerobic digester and a gasifier, which would be half the size of the EfW plants originally envisaged for Capel and Trumps Farm." In a gasifier, waste is heated to produce a gas, which can then be burned cleanly at high temperatures to provide energy in a similar way to natural gas. Anaerobic digestion is a natural treatment by which food waste is broken down producing gases, which can be converted into energy. Last year 100,000 tonnes of food were thrown away in Surrey. The council is already working with the district and borough councils on separate food collections, which should be operating throughout the county by the time the digester is ready.
Because of successes in minimising waste and increases in recycling, Surrey requires much smaller plant than the proposed EfW incinerators. Together the gasifier and the anaerobic digester would treat 100,000 tonnes of waste per year, a considerable reduction from the 270,000 tonnes proposed for the EfWincinerators. They would produce enough energy to power 10,000 households, which equates to one fifth of the houses in Guildford. This 'green' energy would be sold to the national grid. The new Eco Park plans would cost £50m, significantly less than the £200m it would have cost to build two EfW incinerators.
Local residents would of course be consulted during the planning process and their views taken into account. Dr Povey concluded: "We are currently recycling about 47% of our waste; our target is to be recycling around 70% by 2013, which will put us among the best performers in the world. By taking this new approach and with this flexible use of new technologies we will be a world leader in dealing with waste. This strategy will reduce the carbon impact and cost less than previous solutions, making it the best value for money for the taxpayer."
Revealed: What Veolia wanted to be kept secret
Nottinghamshire PAIN (People against Incineration) has won a major victory against Veolia in the High Court. Like Safe Waste in Shropshire, they made a request to view the actual figures contained in the Waste Contract with Veolia to see if Nottinghamshire people were getting value for money. Unlike Shropshire Council, Nottinghamshire was willing to let Shlomo Dowen (campaign member and co-ordinator of UKWIN) see the books. Veolia promptly put an injunction on Nottinghamshire Council to stop it. Read the rest for yourselves.......
(However, Shropshire Council has deferred allowing us to see THEIR books until the outcome of the Nottingham case was decided. We are still waiting, Laura Rowley, Head of Resources!)
We also want to know why there is a £2.6 million discrepancy between payments made to Veolia under the Waste Contract and the total of Veolia's 12 monthly invoices. We discovered that just by examining the papers we were allowed to see!
Tuesday, October 06, Nottingham Evening Post
TAXPAYERS in Notts paid nearly £22m to have their household rubbish disposed of in the last financial year.Figures – which also show we threw away 420,000 tonnes of municipal waste last year – have come to light after a High Court battle won by eco-campaigners who wanted full details of Notts County Council's £850m PFI deal with Veolia Environment Services.
Campaigner Shlomo Dowen, from People Against Incineration (Pain), hopes the information may yield evidence he can use at a public inquiry today into plans for an incinerator at Rainworth, also to be run by Veolia.
Mr Dowen, 47, of Forest Town, said he initially made the request because he wanted to find out how many tonnes of waste Veolia has billed the taxpayer for in Notts – and to investigate if we are overpaying. He insists that Rainworth is the wrong site for an incinerator.He said: "It's the wrong site and the wrong technology. "This is a green field site that's to be restored to heath land and would be included as the Sherwood Forest Regional park. "The proposal was put forward at a time when waste in the county was increasing year after year. But in the last eight years the quantity of waste has actually fallen rather than risen, so it's no longer needed."We feel more should be done to reduce our waste and to recycle the compost we waste." We would rather see Notts County Council invest in an anaerobic digester for kitchen waste and taking weekly collections of food waste," he added.
Figures obtained by the Evening Post about the 26-year PFI contract show last financial year it cost the Notts taxpayer:
£32.14 to deal with compost per tonne/unit.
£29.66 to deal with rubbish for landfill per tonne/unit when collected from a person's home.
£36.34 to deal with rubbish for landfill per tonne/unit when collected from a tip.
£59.75 per tonne/unit to deal with recycling collected from a person's home until December 2008. This cost then dropped to £23.07 per tonne/unit once the £14m Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) opened near Mansfield.
Veolia wanted to keep secret the financial details of its contract with Notts County Council for commercial reasons. The council said it wanted to release the details and brought the High Court case last week. Its legal costs will be met by Veolia.
Mick Burrows, council chief executive, said: "We take our responsibility towards our tax-paying public very seriously and being honest, open and transparent is fundamental to that responsibility." We work with many contractors and are very sensitive to commercial interests. However, as a public body, we must ensure we comply with the law and are transparent and accountable."
Broadly speaking, the district and borough councils are responsible for collecting rubbish. The county council is responsible for arranging for the disposal of waste. It also provides the household waste recycling centres, commonly known as tips.The public has the right to inspect the council's accounts during one month every a year.But Veolia took out an injunction against the council releasing the details after it emerged that Mr Dowen was set to obtain copies of the contract. The Audit Commission and Mr Dowen submitted evidence to the High Court in London as "interested parties" and Mr Justice Cranston found in favour of making the details public.
(However, Shropshire Council has deferred allowing us to see THEIR books until the outcome of the Nottingham case was decided. We are still waiting, Laura Rowley, Head of Resources!)
We also want to know why there is a £2.6 million discrepancy between payments made to Veolia under the Waste Contract and the total of Veolia's 12 monthly invoices. We discovered that just by examining the papers we were allowed to see!
Tuesday, October 06, Nottingham Evening Post
TAXPAYERS in Notts paid nearly £22m to have their household rubbish disposed of in the last financial year.Figures – which also show we threw away 420,000 tonnes of municipal waste last year – have come to light after a High Court battle won by eco-campaigners who wanted full details of Notts County Council's £850m PFI deal with Veolia Environment Services.
Campaigner Shlomo Dowen, from People Against Incineration (Pain), hopes the information may yield evidence he can use at a public inquiry today into plans for an incinerator at Rainworth, also to be run by Veolia.
Mr Dowen, 47, of Forest Town, said he initially made the request because he wanted to find out how many tonnes of waste Veolia has billed the taxpayer for in Notts – and to investigate if we are overpaying. He insists that Rainworth is the wrong site for an incinerator.He said: "It's the wrong site and the wrong technology. "This is a green field site that's to be restored to heath land and would be included as the Sherwood Forest Regional park. "The proposal was put forward at a time when waste in the county was increasing year after year. But in the last eight years the quantity of waste has actually fallen rather than risen, so it's no longer needed."We feel more should be done to reduce our waste and to recycle the compost we waste." We would rather see Notts County Council invest in an anaerobic digester for kitchen waste and taking weekly collections of food waste," he added.
Figures obtained by the Evening Post about the 26-year PFI contract show last financial year it cost the Notts taxpayer:
£32.14 to deal with compost per tonne/unit.
£29.66 to deal with rubbish for landfill per tonne/unit when collected from a person's home.
£36.34 to deal with rubbish for landfill per tonne/unit when collected from a tip.
£59.75 per tonne/unit to deal with recycling collected from a person's home until December 2008. This cost then dropped to £23.07 per tonne/unit once the £14m Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) opened near Mansfield.
Veolia wanted to keep secret the financial details of its contract with Notts County Council for commercial reasons. The council said it wanted to release the details and brought the High Court case last week. Its legal costs will be met by Veolia.
Mick Burrows, council chief executive, said: "We take our responsibility towards our tax-paying public very seriously and being honest, open and transparent is fundamental to that responsibility." We work with many contractors and are very sensitive to commercial interests. However, as a public body, we must ensure we comply with the law and are transparent and accountable."
Broadly speaking, the district and borough councils are responsible for collecting rubbish. The county council is responsible for arranging for the disposal of waste. It also provides the household waste recycling centres, commonly known as tips.The public has the right to inspect the council's accounts during one month every a year.But Veolia took out an injunction against the council releasing the details after it emerged that Mr Dowen was set to obtain copies of the contract. The Audit Commission and Mr Dowen submitted evidence to the High Court in London as "interested parties" and Mr Justice Cranston found in favour of making the details public.
HOW TO OBJECT TO THE BATTLEFIELD INCINERATOR
Veolia's incinerator at Chineham, Hampshire, viewed from nearby fields.
Veolia's planning application for a 90,000-ton incinerator at Battlefield is now under consideration by Shropshire Council's planning department.
The registration number is: MS2009/0125/SY and can be viewed at: http://planning.shropshire.gov.uk/PlanAppDisp.asp?RecNum=59315
The hearing, which will be before the new Unitary Authority's Planning Committee, is not expected for several months.
The consultation period officially ends 30 April but you can still object to the proposal, if you have not already done so.
If you feel that you need more information, you can write a very short note or card with your brief reason for objecting and reserve the right to add more details later on. The earlier you write, the better.
Objections should be in writing and delivered by letter or email to:
Mr Malcolm Bell, Head of Planning and Development Control, Shropshire Council, Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND.
http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/index.nsf/contact?opennavigator&id=planning.921AC90983D3B05880256D9E0031E5D7
REMEMBER TO INCLUDE THE REGISTRATION NUMBER.
If you want to email an objection to us, we will deliver it for you. Just make sure it has your name and full home address on it: safe_waste_shropshire@yahoo.com.
Here are some planning considerations which will be taken seriously by the committee when considering this application.
You can use any or all of these points or, of course, use your own!
Your fears about pollution and dangers to health:
Incineration does not remove waste, it converts it into another form (gas, particulates, ash) and these new forms are typically more hazardous. The fine particulate (less thanPM2.5) pollution, which is typical of incinerator emissions, is an important contributor to heart disease, lung cancer, and an assortment of other diseases, and causes a linear increase in mortality. Particulates from incinerators will be especially hazardous due to the toxic chemicals attached to them. Other pollutants emitted by incinerators include heavy metals and a large variety of organic chemicals. These substances include known carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and substances that can attach to genes, alter behaviour, damage the immune system and decrease intelligence.
Modern incinerators produce fly ash which is much more toxic than in the past, containing large quantities of dioxin-rich material for which there is no safe method of disposal, except vitrification, a method not being used in the UK.
The dangers posed by the disposal of 3,600 tonnes toxic fly ash and the need for transportation of huge quantitites (22,500 tonnes per year) of polluted bottom ash away from the Battlefield site.
The large carbon-footprint of an incinerator
The negative visual impact of a large plant next to the historic Battlefield site and which will also be clearly seen from the town and neighbouring residential areas
The flawed process leading up to the application - lack of Council scrutiny, the 'democracy deficit' in the processes leading up to the awarding of the contract and the poor level of consultation
Fears that incinerator emissions might affect people's health including yours and that of your family
The mismatch between actual falling waste figures, actual rising recyling figures and the claimed need for an incinerator
Concerns that the future costs of such a project could be ultimately borne by the council tax-payer as has happened in other areas such as Nottingham and South Wales when projected costs have fallen short of reality
The lack of consideration of cleaner, safer and cheaper alternatives to incineration such as MBT, anaeorobic digestion and plasma-gasification.
The decision to depart from the Shrewsbury Waste Local Plan which precludes 'mass burn incineration' at the Battlefield site
The implications of the transport of hazardous waste from the incinerator near to residential homes and the increased number of lorries visiting the plant at a time when Peak Oil is nearing or has already been reached.
The proximity of an incinerator to the new food enterprise park
The increase in noise levels and distasteful odour
Non-compliance with the waste hierarchy: The proposal does not comply with the waste hierarchy, in that waste incineration should not be used in preference to waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting (including anaerobic digestion).
Help the Campaign
Help us raise awareness - start spreading the word - tell all your friends, family, work colleagues and neighbours.
Lobby all candidates for the new Shropshire Council. Whatever they say, they are allowed to give an indication of their views on incineration and it is important that they understand the need to inform themselves properly, take note of public opinion (strongly against incinerators) and take the appropriate action to stop this proposal.
Please take action TODAY to have your objection considered for this planning application!
Register your e-mail address and/or address with us for further updates and keep on returning for updates to http://www.safewasteshropshire.co.uk/
Ways to help stop the Battlefield Incinerator:
Write to your local councillor/s
Distribute leaflets
Donate money to the campaign
Write to the local press
Veolia's planning application for a 90,000-ton incinerator at Battlefield is now under consideration by Shropshire Council's planning department.
The registration number is: MS2009/0125/SY and can be viewed at: http://planning.shropshire.gov.uk/PlanAppDisp.asp?RecNum=59315
The hearing, which will be before the new Unitary Authority's Planning Committee, is not expected for several months.
The consultation period officially ends 30 April but you can still object to the proposal, if you have not already done so.
If you feel that you need more information, you can write a very short note or card with your brief reason for objecting and reserve the right to add more details later on. The earlier you write, the better.
Objections should be in writing and delivered by letter or email to:
Mr Malcolm Bell, Head of Planning and Development Control, Shropshire Council, Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND.
http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/index.nsf/contact?opennavigator&id=planning.921AC90983D3B05880256D9E0031E5D7
REMEMBER TO INCLUDE THE REGISTRATION NUMBER.
If you want to email an objection to us, we will deliver it for you. Just make sure it has your name and full home address on it: safe_waste_shropshire@yahoo.com.
Here are some planning considerations which will be taken seriously by the committee when considering this application.
You can use any or all of these points or, of course, use your own!
Your fears about pollution and dangers to health:
Incineration does not remove waste, it converts it into another form (gas, particulates, ash) and these new forms are typically more hazardous. The fine particulate (less thanPM2.5) pollution, which is typical of incinerator emissions, is an important contributor to heart disease, lung cancer, and an assortment of other diseases, and causes a linear increase in mortality. Particulates from incinerators will be especially hazardous due to the toxic chemicals attached to them. Other pollutants emitted by incinerators include heavy metals and a large variety of organic chemicals. These substances include known carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and substances that can attach to genes, alter behaviour, damage the immune system and decrease intelligence.
Modern incinerators produce fly ash which is much more toxic than in the past, containing large quantities of dioxin-rich material for which there is no safe method of disposal, except vitrification, a method not being used in the UK.
The dangers posed by the disposal of 3,600 tonnes toxic fly ash and the need for transportation of huge quantitites (22,500 tonnes per year) of polluted bottom ash away from the Battlefield site.
The large carbon-footprint of an incinerator
The negative visual impact of a large plant next to the historic Battlefield site and which will also be clearly seen from the town and neighbouring residential areas
The flawed process leading up to the application - lack of Council scrutiny, the 'democracy deficit' in the processes leading up to the awarding of the contract and the poor level of consultation
Fears that incinerator emissions might affect people's health including yours and that of your family
The mismatch between actual falling waste figures, actual rising recyling figures and the claimed need for an incinerator
Concerns that the future costs of such a project could be ultimately borne by the council tax-payer as has happened in other areas such as Nottingham and South Wales when projected costs have fallen short of reality
The lack of consideration of cleaner, safer and cheaper alternatives to incineration such as MBT, anaeorobic digestion and plasma-gasification.
The decision to depart from the Shrewsbury Waste Local Plan which precludes 'mass burn incineration' at the Battlefield site
The implications of the transport of hazardous waste from the incinerator near to residential homes and the increased number of lorries visiting the plant at a time when Peak Oil is nearing or has already been reached.
The proximity of an incinerator to the new food enterprise park
The increase in noise levels and distasteful odour
Non-compliance with the waste hierarchy: The proposal does not comply with the waste hierarchy, in that waste incineration should not be used in preference to waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting (including anaerobic digestion).
Help the Campaign
Help us raise awareness - start spreading the word - tell all your friends, family, work colleagues and neighbours.
Lobby all candidates for the new Shropshire Council. Whatever they say, they are allowed to give an indication of their views on incineration and it is important that they understand the need to inform themselves properly, take note of public opinion (strongly against incinerators) and take the appropriate action to stop this proposal.
Please take action TODAY to have your objection considered for this planning application!
Register your e-mail address and/or address with us for further updates and keep on returning for updates to http://www.safewasteshropshire.co.uk/
Ways to help stop the Battlefield Incinerator:
Write to your local councillor/s
Distribute leaflets
Donate money to the campaign
Write to the local press
HOW BIG WOULD THE BATTLEFIELD INCINERATOR BE?
'A giant landfill in the sky' - Chineham incinerator picture by Safe Waste in ShropshireYou can get an idea of the huge size of the proposed 90,000 ton Battlefield incinerator with its 80 metre (200 feet) high chimney by looking at this picture of Veolia's incinerator in Chineham, Hampshire. It is the same size and of a similar style to the proposed Battlefield incinerator.
Paperwork hitch delays £12m Staffs incinerator
From the Birmingham Post on 5 August:
"The error was unearthed after a member of the public complained to the council about the way the decision to build the incinerator was written
Plans for a £120 million rubbish incinerator in Staffordshire are being sent back to council planners over legal fears.
The incinerator earmarked for Four Ashes Industrial Estate, near Cannock, will go back before Staffordshire County Council's planning committee after it emerged that a "paperwork hitch" could leave it open to a legal challenge.
The council has admitted "technical details" were not included in the original planning application and the plan now needs to be reconsidered by the new planning committee so the error can be corrected. But the project, approved back in November, is still expected to go ahead as planned.
The council's project director Ian Benson said: "The planning application will be returning to the planning committee in the autumn due to a paperwork hitch. The planning committee approved the scheme at Four Ashes last November.
"The committee will revisit the paperwork to ensure technical details are included in the published decision. These were not included in the original decision and did not comply with recent judgements which meant the plan could have been vulnerable to a legal challenge."
It is believed the error was unearthed after a member of the public complained to the council about the way the decision to build the incinerator was written.
The Four Ashes Incinerator will handle an expected 300,000 tonnes of waste a year from Staffordshire and neighbouring authorities and is aimed at reducing the amount of rubbish going to landfill.
It is also predicted to generate enough power for over 25,000 homes and deliver surplus hot water to local industrial and commercial users.
But Friends of the Earth campaigners say the county could struggle to fulfill 30-year obligations as recycling will limit the amount of waste going to the burner.
"The error was unearthed after a member of the public complained to the council about the way the decision to build the incinerator was written
Plans for a £120 million rubbish incinerator in Staffordshire are being sent back to council planners over legal fears.
The incinerator earmarked for Four Ashes Industrial Estate, near Cannock, will go back before Staffordshire County Council's planning committee after it emerged that a "paperwork hitch" could leave it open to a legal challenge.
The council has admitted "technical details" were not included in the original planning application and the plan now needs to be reconsidered by the new planning committee so the error can be corrected. But the project, approved back in November, is still expected to go ahead as planned.
The council's project director Ian Benson said: "The planning application will be returning to the planning committee in the autumn due to a paperwork hitch. The planning committee approved the scheme at Four Ashes last November.
"The committee will revisit the paperwork to ensure technical details are included in the published decision. These were not included in the original decision and did not comply with recent judgements which meant the plan could have been vulnerable to a legal challenge."
It is believed the error was unearthed after a member of the public complained to the council about the way the decision to build the incinerator was written.
The Four Ashes Incinerator will handle an expected 300,000 tonnes of waste a year from Staffordshire and neighbouring authorities and is aimed at reducing the amount of rubbish going to landfill.
It is also predicted to generate enough power for over 25,000 homes and deliver surplus hot water to local industrial and commercial users.
But Friends of the Earth campaigners say the county could struggle to fulfill 30-year obligations as recycling will limit the amount of waste going to the burner.
PROBLEMS FOR VEOLIA'S WASTE MANAGEMENT SITES IN BRIGHTON
Brighton waste centre wrecked by fire
Monday 13th July 2009
A waste recycling centre remains closed today after fire engulfed the building. The centre in Wilson Avenue, Brighton, was wrecked after it caught light on Saturday evening. An investigation has been launched to investigate the cause but Sussex Police last night said there were no signs it had been caused by arsonists. Smoke from the site, which is run by Veolia on behalf of Brighton and Hove City Council, could be seen from miles away as the fire took hold. A council spokesman said:
“We would ask people to be patient while we investigate what has happened. “If people need to urgently use the recycling facility we would ask them to use the one in Old Shoreham Road instead.”
It is not yet known how long the centre will have to remain closed. Council officials are expected to visit the site to assess the damage again today. East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service received 20 999 calls when the fire started just before 6.30pm on Saturday, Crews from Preston Circus, Roedean and Hove were at the scene first and found the waste hall building well alight.
The blaze was out shortly before 10pm but firefighters stayed at the scene for the rest of the night and throughout Sunday morning to make sure the area was safe. A spokeswoman said:
“They needed to keep turning all the material over to make sure everything was properly out so there was no risk of the fire re-igniting.
“A large quantity of waste was destroyed and the building it was in was damaged. “We are investigating the cause of the fire as a matter of routine.”
Crews from Seaford, Uckfield, Newhaven and Lewes as well as two from West Sussex were brought in to provide cover. Lee Craig, who lives opposite the site, said:
“I noticed the smoke first and then when I went out to look I could see the building was well alight. “People were stopping their cars and getting out to take a look. “The smoke was really thick. “The police and firefighters closed off both ends of the road to stop any traffic going through but there were still a lot of people around watching. “I went to take another look on Sunday morning and you can see how badly damaged the building is. I don't think it will be opening for a while yet. “There were also bits and pieces of debris from the fire scattered about in the fields.”
It is the second time there has been a fire at the site. In February 2006 the waste hall caught alight, causing hundreds of thousands of pounds of damage.
Chemical alert shuts Brighton tip
Friday 26th June 2009
Binmen had to be taken to hospital after a mystery chemical alert at Brighton’s new £10 million waste centre. The Hollingdean waste transfer centre was closed and the area around it was sealed off after three men became ill. Emergency crews immediately shut the site and tried to determine exactly what caused the scare. They yesterday ruled out any danger to the public from the site.
The trio of City Clean workers – one driver and two operatives – were taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital with breathing problems at around 1pm yesterday. It is believed that two of the men were discharged yesterday afternoon but the other was kept in for tests and monitoring.
The dump, near Hollingdean Road, is run by waste firm Veolia, which is under contract with Brighton and Hove City Council and East Sussex County Council.
Fire crews do not know what caused the breathing problems but confirmed that it was not due to a chemical leak. A deodoriser that is used to mask the smell of the rubbish was originally blamed but was later found to be non-hazardous. Veolia said the site would be open for business this morning and that the closure yesterday would not affect recycling collections.
But union officials last night spoke of their concern that the cause of the incident had still not been identified. Mark Turner, the branch secretary for GMB, which represents 300 City Clean workers, said:
“Until they have done tests on the individuals involved then no one knows what the actual reaction is but it is concerning.
“We are concerned that the chemical that caused it has not been identified.
“We want to get to the bottom of this as it does not just effect council staff but also Veolia staff that work there eight hours a day, six days a week.
“If there is a substance out there that is not good for the body then that is concerning.”
Officials confirmed that staff had reported symptoms of burning throats and shortness of breath to City Clean management on Wednesday but that nothing was done before staff came in for work yesterday. One staff member, who did not want to be named, said:
“They went to the manager when their throats were burning and they were short of breath but they went back in there the next day.
“They raised the issue with the management on Wednesday but they had not done anything about it and the staff were back in this morning.
“One of them collapsed in the manager’s office.”
The situation has been reported to the Health and Safety Executive The Hollingdean Road site employs 30 Veolia staff. Mr Turner estimated that around 100 to 150 City Clean staff work at the site dropping off waste from their collections. Hollingdean residents fiercely opposed plans to build the controversial dump, which became fully operational in September 2008.
The Dump the Dump group campaigned against the waste transfer and recycling centre, arguing that it would smell and affect nearby houses and Downs Infants School. A spokeswoman for Veolia said: ''The incident was attended by the emergency services concluding that the site could continue to operate as normal. “We will be conducting an internal investigation in line with normal procedures.'' Brighton and Hove City Council confirmed that bin collections would be unaffected by the temporary closure.
A spokesman said:
“The waste transfer station is run by Veolia Environmental Services on behalf of the council.
“Veolia will be investigating in line with their normal procedures, and the matter is being reported to the Health and Safety Executive.
“We can confirm that three of our staff working at the waste transfer station were taken to hospital earlier today after complaining of feeling unwell. We very much hope they get well soon.
“Emergency services have attended and declared the site safe to continue to operate as normal.”
Monday 13th July 2009
A waste recycling centre remains closed today after fire engulfed the building. The centre in Wilson Avenue, Brighton, was wrecked after it caught light on Saturday evening. An investigation has been launched to investigate the cause but Sussex Police last night said there were no signs it had been caused by arsonists. Smoke from the site, which is run by Veolia on behalf of Brighton and Hove City Council, could be seen from miles away as the fire took hold. A council spokesman said:
“We would ask people to be patient while we investigate what has happened. “If people need to urgently use the recycling facility we would ask them to use the one in Old Shoreham Road instead.”
It is not yet known how long the centre will have to remain closed. Council officials are expected to visit the site to assess the damage again today. East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service received 20 999 calls when the fire started just before 6.30pm on Saturday, Crews from Preston Circus, Roedean and Hove were at the scene first and found the waste hall building well alight.
The blaze was out shortly before 10pm but firefighters stayed at the scene for the rest of the night and throughout Sunday morning to make sure the area was safe. A spokeswoman said:
“They needed to keep turning all the material over to make sure everything was properly out so there was no risk of the fire re-igniting.
“A large quantity of waste was destroyed and the building it was in was damaged. “We are investigating the cause of the fire as a matter of routine.”
Crews from Seaford, Uckfield, Newhaven and Lewes as well as two from West Sussex were brought in to provide cover. Lee Craig, who lives opposite the site, said:
“I noticed the smoke first and then when I went out to look I could see the building was well alight. “People were stopping their cars and getting out to take a look. “The smoke was really thick. “The police and firefighters closed off both ends of the road to stop any traffic going through but there were still a lot of people around watching. “I went to take another look on Sunday morning and you can see how badly damaged the building is. I don't think it will be opening for a while yet. “There were also bits and pieces of debris from the fire scattered about in the fields.”
It is the second time there has been a fire at the site. In February 2006 the waste hall caught alight, causing hundreds of thousands of pounds of damage.
Chemical alert shuts Brighton tip
Friday 26th June 2009
Binmen had to be taken to hospital after a mystery chemical alert at Brighton’s new £10 million waste centre. The Hollingdean waste transfer centre was closed and the area around it was sealed off after three men became ill. Emergency crews immediately shut the site and tried to determine exactly what caused the scare. They yesterday ruled out any danger to the public from the site.
The trio of City Clean workers – one driver and two operatives – were taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital with breathing problems at around 1pm yesterday. It is believed that two of the men were discharged yesterday afternoon but the other was kept in for tests and monitoring.
The dump, near Hollingdean Road, is run by waste firm Veolia, which is under contract with Brighton and Hove City Council and East Sussex County Council.
Fire crews do not know what caused the breathing problems but confirmed that it was not due to a chemical leak. A deodoriser that is used to mask the smell of the rubbish was originally blamed but was later found to be non-hazardous. Veolia said the site would be open for business this morning and that the closure yesterday would not affect recycling collections.
But union officials last night spoke of their concern that the cause of the incident had still not been identified. Mark Turner, the branch secretary for GMB, which represents 300 City Clean workers, said:
“Until they have done tests on the individuals involved then no one knows what the actual reaction is but it is concerning.
“We are concerned that the chemical that caused it has not been identified.
“We want to get to the bottom of this as it does not just effect council staff but also Veolia staff that work there eight hours a day, six days a week.
“If there is a substance out there that is not good for the body then that is concerning.”
Officials confirmed that staff had reported symptoms of burning throats and shortness of breath to City Clean management on Wednesday but that nothing was done before staff came in for work yesterday. One staff member, who did not want to be named, said:
“They went to the manager when their throats were burning and they were short of breath but they went back in there the next day.
“They raised the issue with the management on Wednesday but they had not done anything about it and the staff were back in this morning.
“One of them collapsed in the manager’s office.”
The situation has been reported to the Health and Safety Executive The Hollingdean Road site employs 30 Veolia staff. Mr Turner estimated that around 100 to 150 City Clean staff work at the site dropping off waste from their collections. Hollingdean residents fiercely opposed plans to build the controversial dump, which became fully operational in September 2008.
The Dump the Dump group campaigned against the waste transfer and recycling centre, arguing that it would smell and affect nearby houses and Downs Infants School. A spokeswoman for Veolia said: ''The incident was attended by the emergency services concluding that the site could continue to operate as normal. “We will be conducting an internal investigation in line with normal procedures.'' Brighton and Hove City Council confirmed that bin collections would be unaffected by the temporary closure.
A spokesman said:
“The waste transfer station is run by Veolia Environmental Services on behalf of the council.
“Veolia will be investigating in line with their normal procedures, and the matter is being reported to the Health and Safety Executive.
“We can confirm that three of our staff working at the waste transfer station were taken to hospital earlier today after complaining of feeling unwell. We very much hope they get well soon.
“Emergency services have attended and declared the site safe to continue to operate as normal.”
Environment Agency public event on Monday 8 June: incinerator environmental permit
Here's your chance to talk to the Environment Agency about the 'environmental permit' (it used to be called a 'pollution permit') for the proposed Battlefield incinerator. Please email us if you have objected to the permit and have actually received your own invitation to this event (Safe Waste in Shropshire didn't!).
Safe Waste in Shropshire. safe_waste_shropshire@yahoo.com
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Public Event – Monday 8 June 2009 1pm - 6.30 pm
Proposed Battlefield Energy From Waste Plant, Shrewsbury
On Monday 8 June 2009 we will be holding a public event about the environmental permit application for the proposed Battlefield Energy from Waste Plant in Shrewsbury. As part of our public consultation exercise, the event is designed to give anyone who is interested in the application an opportunity to come and speak to us about our role. We also want to help them understand what information we base our decisions on.
To give members of the public an opportunity to understand how the planning and environmental permit applications are dealt with, officers from Shropshire Council will also be in attendance at the event.
The event is open to everyone and you can visit anytime between 1.00 pm and 6.30 pm, the event will be held at:
The Lantern
Meadow Farm Drive
Shrewsbury
SY1 4NG
We are also setting up an appointment system for one-to-one 20 minute appointments for members of the public to speak with our staff. These slots will need to be pre booked by contacting:
Alex Roberts on 01684 864516 or via e-mail midswest@environment-agency.gov.uk
Yours faithfully
Andrew Nixon
Project Manager
Direct dial: 01562 534172
Direct e-mail: andrew.nixon@environment-agency.gov.uk
Safe Waste in Shropshire. safe_waste_shropshire@yahoo.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Event – Monday 8 June 2009 1pm - 6.30 pm
Proposed Battlefield Energy From Waste Plant, Shrewsbury
On Monday 8 June 2009 we will be holding a public event about the environmental permit application for the proposed Battlefield Energy from Waste Plant in Shrewsbury. As part of our public consultation exercise, the event is designed to give anyone who is interested in the application an opportunity to come and speak to us about our role. We also want to help them understand what information we base our decisions on.
To give members of the public an opportunity to understand how the planning and environmental permit applications are dealt with, officers from Shropshire Council will also be in attendance at the event.
The event is open to everyone and you can visit anytime between 1.00 pm and 6.30 pm, the event will be held at:
The Lantern
Meadow Farm Drive
Shrewsbury
SY1 4NG
We are also setting up an appointment system for one-to-one 20 minute appointments for members of the public to speak with our staff. These slots will need to be pre booked by contacting:
Alex Roberts on 01684 864516 or via e-mail midswest@environment-agency.gov.uk
Yours faithfully
Andrew Nixon
Project Manager
Direct dial: 01562 534172
Direct e-mail: andrew.nixon@environment-agency.gov.uk
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