UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Labour’s government is facing opposition over its proposal to build new waste incinerators, with environmental groups and communities raising concerns about pollution and threats to recycling goals.
The move to construct new energy from waste incinerators is under fire from local communities, who have condemned the plans as Britain’s most polluting energy. Many of these plants, which can burn more than 500,000 tonnes of waste yearly, are located in less wealthy regions.
As reported by The Guardian, England already has 50 waste incinerators, and the latest data show that 41 more have been approved. Of these, 27 have received environmental permits, and a few are in the process of constriction.
Due to growing public concerns, ministers are ready to reveal new regulations for waste incinerators on Monday. Activists are urging the government to cancel permits for incinerators that have not been built yet and ban future projects.
Shlomo Dowen, a member of the UK Without Incineration Network, which compiled data on planned projects stated,
“There are already far too many waste incinerators across the UK, meaning that most of what is burned is material that could and should have been recycled or composted.”
He added, “For every tonne of plastic that is incinerated, more than two tonnes of carbon dioxide are being released, as the carbon in the plastic combines with oxygen in the air. It makes incineration a significant source of greenhouse gases.”
Mr Dowen warned that incinerators are posing a risk to people’s health and there’s no good reason for it.
According to the new data, 12.1 million tonnes of waste were incinerated in England in 2022-2023, representing 49% of all local council waste. The proposal of new incinerators could push this figure above half, highlighting concerns that it is challenging Labour’s vision of a “circular economy.”
To address environmental issues, Wales and Scotland have shut down new incinerators, while previous Conservatives have promised during their election campaign to stop the construction of new waste incinerator plants.
The new incinerators are planned for areas like Dorset, Wiltshire, Cambridgeshire, and West Yorkshire, also numerous projects in the north-east, including Teesside, have already been approved.
In the summer, Tristan Learoyd, an independent councillor from Redcar and Cleveland, wrote a letter to Energy Minister Ed Miliband, urging him to block a plan for Grangetown Prairie on Teesside.
In response, the Environmental Department stated,
“local planning authorities to consider their waste treatment capacity needs at local level and to factor national policy measures into their considerations.”
Last month, The Observer revealed that British Olympic athletes at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy may leave due to a planned £150m incinerator nearby. The current government permitted the project in September after the Dorset council had rejected it.
The leader of the Dorset council, Nick Ireland, stated in September that the government’s approval of the incinerator overlooked the opinions of local residents.
Activists were given the green light by the High Court this month to evaluate the judgement legally. Dorset Council has also urged Environment Secretary Steve Reed to take action.
This year, a plan for an industrial zone in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, was permitted. The Environment Agency approved it in May.
One campaigner from Wisbech Without Incineration, Virginia Bucknor stated the region does not have enough infrastructure required for leading a European waste-to-energy incinerator.
A representative from DEFRA stated,
“We are committed to cutting waste and moving to a circular economy so that we re-use, reduce and recycle more resources and help meet our emissions targets.”
Many Officials also argue that incinerators have played an essential role in lowering landfill waste and energy-from-waste plants now contribute nearly 3% of the British energy capability.