Speaking at the Environmental Strategies Investigative Committee final scrutiny meeting last week, Mr Livingstone who is known to be anti-incineration surprised industry representatives by saying: “Some of the people operating in the incineration industry are our version of the Sopranos.” He added that it was his view that incineration is damaging to health although he said that he didn't have any evidence to back this up.
The comments were made as Mr Livingstone and his senior policy advisor John Duffy were asked questions by the Environmental Strategies Investigative Committee over the draft municipal waste strategy.
Dirk Hazell, chief executive of the Environmental Services Association (ESA) has now written to Mr Livingstone, asking him to clarify the statement.
Mr Hazell said in his letter: “ESA and our members regard this comment as a most serious matter and we would be grateful if you could both substantiate and clarify your allegation.”
Paul Egan, external communications manager for LondonWaste also urged Mr Livingstone to clarify his statement and said: “'His comments are surprising to say the least and I'd; urge him to clarify exactly what he meant. The incineration industry is probably the most heavily regulated process industry in the UK, and certainly at LondonWaste we take our environmental responsibilities very seriously as demonstrated by our recent 14001 accreditation.”
Presenting to the committee, Mr Livingstone said that he will do everything to ensure that another incinerator would not be needed in London and reiterated his desire for a 50% recycling target. Although there is presumption against extra incineration capacity before 2005/6, if recycling targets have not been met by then the strategy gives provision for incinerators to be planned and built by 2013.
Mr Livingstone stressed that a single waste disposal authority is needed to manage waste in London. The Mayor also said that he has not got the powers to deliver the strategy he wants to deliver, although he said that he would be asking the government for more powers. Mr Livingstone added that he was also going to ask for more money to implement the strategy.
The reliability of figures was also discussed at the meeting with Mr Duffy saying that the Greater London Authority plans to work with the Environment Agency to develop more reliable forms of data collection for recycling.
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