And, at the same time the organisation has attacked the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
In a statement issued today, the recycling officers, through Larac – the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee – said that the government needed to be consistent in its policy. Larac pointed to differences of view between the DETR and the Department of Trade and Industry which had consulted on the role of energy from waste.
The statement said: “Larac believes that the UK will not be able to meet its obligations under the EU Landfill Directive without a significant shift from landfill to efw. In addition, Larac is concerned that smaller scale mass-burn incinerators will not get off the ground because of practical planning issues as well as being financially uncompetitive. Alternative efw technologies such as anaeorobic digestion, gasification and pyrolysis may be able to provide the most sustainable waste management option in some areas.”
But, Larac has qualified its view by saying that efw has a part to play as long as all possible and pracical use is made of the resources contained withint eh waste before it is commtitee to efw.
Editor’s note: Larac’s endorsement of energy from waste comes as the government and the European Commission have been stepping back from calling for new energy from waste plants to be built.
Environment minister Michael Meacher has said the matter is one for local authorities and it remains to be seen whether the support of council recycling officers for efw will influence the views of councillors who are often against because of concerns about losing votes.
Tomorrow Mr Meacher addresses a parliamentary committee and letsrecycle.com will bring you a full report of any important government views soon after the minister speaks.
Subscribe for free