MEPs are being urged to vote against ratification of the revised Waste Framework Directive next week following concerns that its incineration policies could have a negative impact upon public health.

Doctors' associations representing over 33,000 physicians sent an open letter to the European Parliament yesterday in objection to proposals which include classing more efficient incinerators as "recovery" plants.

The critics include the International Society of Doctors for the Environment - which represents organisations in over 35 countries, including UK health group body Medact.

French environmental health organisations CNMSE and ASEP - which represent over 3,000 doctors - have also signed up, together with the Association for Research on Treatments against Cancer (ARTAC).

Formula

The doctors' concerns centre around the efficiency formula by which incinerators must have to comply in order to be classed as recovery plants, which they claim only takes into account energy-efficiency considerations and not health and environmental repercussions.

Criticising claims by WFD rapporteur Caroline Jackson MEP that the health effects from incinerators were "negligible", the letter pointed to studies including a French survey of cancer incidents which had occurred near incinerators.

It said: "Several recent studies of wide samples of populations continue to reveal the threat that incinerators pose to human health in Europe and around the world. Ultra-fine particles emissions are still not monitored anywhere in Europe, even though the danger these particles pose is well documented."

The letter also claimed that, by classing incineration as "recovery", the EU would create an image as a resource-burning economy.

The letter said: "We believe the current Waste Framework Directive falls short in ensuring that the waste will be properly separated and making sure the best waste management option will be applied. Progressive recycling targets are needed to redirect waste away from incinerators into cleaner processes."

Reconsider

Now, the European parliament is being urged to reconsider its decision regarding the reclassification of incineration and stick to its first reading position, which the letter says will do "far more" to preserve children's health.

Last week, the proposals moved one step closer to becoming law when they were given provisional approval by the European Council (see letsrecycle.com story).

A statement from global campaign group Health Care Without Harm said: "If the European Parliament refuses to ratify the Waste Framework Directive, the legislation will go into conciliation. This will give MEPs a change to reintroduce the more ambitious proposals tabled earlier in the process."