Government stance on incineration is “absurd,” say Greens

The Landfill Allowance Target Scheme began on April 1 this year with councils facing fines for sending more waste to landfill than their allowance permits. This scheme has been brought in to ensure that the UK meets EU targets for landfill, the first of which is in 2010.

” The new rule could have been a real incentive for boroughs to recycle. Instead the government is allowing councils to get away with incinerating more “
– Councillor Darren Johnson, Green Party
According to the Green Party this scheme should be used to force councils to increase the amount of recycling that they do. But the party claims that many councils will “cheat” the system by incinerating their rubbish instead of recycling it.

Councillor Darren Johnson of the Green Party said: “The government position on this is absurd. The new rule could have been a real incentive for boroughs to recycle. Instead the government is allowing councils to get away with incinerating more.

“The new rule is one big cheat in terms of sustainability. Only a fine on incineration, as well as landfill, will actually stop environmentally unfriendly councils from lowering their council tax bills by burning their waste,” he said.

Onslaught

The party has also voiced its fears that the LATS targets could lead to a new onslaught of incinerators, with councils believing that it is cheaper to incinerate than pay penalties or buy allowances from councils who send less waste to landfill than their limit.

Councillor Johnson said: “Councils in East London who are to have a dramatic increase in population under the government's home building scheme will suffer under the new rule. It will be harder for them to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill because their total waste is likely to grow with the population.

“Because councils will get away with incinerating rather than recycling it is likely that the rule will lead to pressure to build more incinerators in London,” he added.