The charges relate to the occupation of Edmonton incinerator in October when a group of Greenpeace volunteers closed the plant for four days by camping on top of the chimney. The defendants argued that their occupation of the plant was lawful because the incinerator was breaking pollution laws and discharging hundreds of tonnes of toxic chemicals which threatened people, property and the environment.
Greenpeace has welcomed the verdict and is calling on the government to ban incineration. The campaign group said that today's court verdict will encourage organisations and community groups who actively oppose incineration and will send a powerful message to the government about public concerns over burning rubbish.
Greenpeace added that the decision is a blow to government plans to expand incineration capacity across Britain as “the jury clearly accepted Greenpeace's arguments that incinerators represent an unacceptable source of toxic pollution which threatens people's health”.
The Crown Prosecution Service has said that during the blocking of the flue the Greenpeace volunteers caused structual damage to the chimney and a conviction could have resulted in custodial sentences.
Edmonton incinerator, the largest in Britain, is run by London Waste, which is owned by several north London boroughs and SITA. The government is currently considering a planning application to expand the capacity of Edmonton incinerator by 50%.
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