Reports in the Financial Times suggested that the government may rule against the plant's extension in a policy against mass burning of material.
Commenting on the report that the application for the project, known as Edmonton B, may be
rejected Debbie Dorkin, renewable energy policy executive with the Environmental Services Association, stated that such a project should be seen as a proper waste route.
She said: “It is wrong to discount properly sited large scale energy
recovery projects as an effective way of managing the UK's waste. The UK
requires an integrated approach to waste management. Increasingly waste must
be recognised as a resource – either to be recycled or as a source of
recovered energy.”
Ms Dorkin added:
“EU laws require massive diversion of waste from landfill. A balanced approach is required to this challenge and energy recovery is an effective and environmentally sound way to manage the waste fractions that cannot be
recycled or composted.
“The waste management industry is not wedded to any one particular option for treating the UK's waste. Waste managers want to become resource managers but need flexibility to provide the most economically and environmentally effective solutions for local communities,” she concluded.
However, it appears increasingly likely that with the government's desire to increase recycling and composting, large energy from waste projects may be rejected. This morning (May 21) Environment Minister Michael Meacher spoke in favour of anaerobic digestors rather than incineration.
Register for free to comment