Shadow environment secretary chastises incineration use

In a letter to the local anti-incinerator movement in Norfolk – Nail2 – Mr Ainsworth commented that a “substantial increase in incineration” would come at the expense of “successful and ambitious recycling”.

” the substantial increase in proposed incineration is coming at the expense of a successful and ambitious recycling strategy “
– Peter Ainsworth, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
He has also claimed that the government is “failing to meet is recycling targets” and attempts to reduce the amount of waste produced are a “complete failure”.

Mr Ainsworth's letter comes amid fears from some residents in Norfolk that an incinerator may be built in order to handle the county's non-recyclable waste.

Conservative-run Norfolk originally selected WRG and its energy from waste proposal for the contract. However, the county dropped the WRG bid, claiming that the firm had failed to find suitable site for the plant and could not have a facility set up by 2010.

Norfolk has since been in advanced discussions with reserve bidder SRM, which has proposed a 150,000 tonne per annum MBT plant.

Failure


Mr Ainsworth was contacted because Nail2 fears that the WRG bid could return to the table. In his letter to the group, he stated: “I am well aware of the proliferation of proposals for incinerators across the UK and I sympathise with the concern for human health of those facing the proposal of having an incinerator near their home.

“I agree with you that the substantial increase in proposed incineration is coming at the expense of a successful and ambitious recycling strategy. The government is struggling to reach its own recycling targets and efforts to reduce the total waste we produce have been a complete failure,” he added.

He also noted that the Conservative Party disagreed with the government's policy over making incineration a priority.

Mr Ainsworth went on to offer some support for smaller incineration plants. “Where there is community consent and clear benefits to local people, particularly arising from smaller scale, modern energy from waste technology, we do believe that there could be a place for certain plants.”

” Indications are that last year we recycled more than every other county in the region, coming fourth nationally “
– Norfolk county council
The WRG proposal remains an option for the county. A spokeswoman for Norfolk said: “WRG have never been out of the picture. They were de-selected as preferred bidder but SRM are not preferred bidder ether. We have left it open for WRG to update us on their progress if they are able to come up with a developments over a suitable location.”

Discussions with SRM closed in November and the council is set to rename a preferred bidder in early 2007.

Response


Mr Ainsworth's letter was also published in the Norwich Evening News, which has been strongly against the incinerator being built. A letter from the council was also then sent to the newspaper, in defence.

The letter read: “Peter Ainsworth is calling for a “successful and ambitious recycling strategy” and Norfolk is already one of the leading counties for recycling in the whole of the UK. All the councils in Norfolk work together as the Norfolk Waste Partnership. Our strategy is to reduce, reuse and recycle as much household waste as possible.

“And it is working. Indications are that last year we recycled more than every other county in the region, coming fourth nationally. In the first two quarters of this year we recycled and composted 39% of our household waste compared to a Government target of 30% and this figure is set to rise even further. We are also way ahead of schedule with a target to reduce the amount of waste produced by each resident.

“However, there will always be waste left over after recycling and councils in the UK must drastically reduce the amount of biodegradable household waste they send to landfill or face hefty environmental and financial penalties. It is important to recognise that the European countries which already use energy from waste are also managing excellent recycling rates, with the Netherlands recycling 64% of its rubbish and Denmark 41%.”