Only Welsh waste incinerator shut down

The only currently-operating waste incinerator in Wales, the Crymlyn Burrows incinerator near Swansea, has been shut down after failing 5 out of its past 10 dioxin limits. We understand, unfortunately, that this shutdown is only temporary. It also comes after seven years of complaints by residents about pollution and smell at the site, as well as a long history of operational problems. This is, it seems, the level of policing we can expect from Environment Agency Wales.
It's now six months since this year's campaign against the Cardiff incinerator was launched. I hope the turning of the new year finds everyone well and I know that our best fights lie ahead of us in 2011.
Back Story  Another fire at Crymlyn Burrows · UK Without Incineration Network 14 Feb 2010 ... Firefighters tackled a blaze at the Crymlyn Burrows waste treatment plant near Swansea. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service was ...
ukwin.org.uk/2010/02/14/another-fire-at-crymlyn-burrows/ 

Prosiect Gwyrdd/Incinerator chooses incinerator

So much for Prosiect Gwyrdd  being "technology neutral" with its four chosen ones. Incinerator or incinerator or incinerator or incinerator.

Prosiect Gwyrdd Incinerator, the consortium of South Wales councils seeking a waste contract for South Wales, has short-listed only incinerators for a 25-year contract to handle municipal solid waste from the area.

A bulletin circulated to selected stakeholders lists the following four companies as candidates for the multi-million-pound contract:

"Covanta Energy Ltd: Covanta Energy Ltd is proposing a merchant Energy from Waste(EfW) facility INCINERATOR located at Brig y Cwm, Merthyr Tydfil.
Veolia ES Aurora Ltd: Veolia ES Aurora Ltd is proposing an Energy Recovery Facility(ERF) INCINERATOR located at Bowlease Common, South of the existing Corus Llanwern Steelworks,
Newport.
Viridor Waste Management Ltd: Viridor Waste Management Ltd is proposing a merchant
Energy from Waste (EfW) INCINERATOR with Combined Heat and Power facility located at Trident Park,
Cardiff.
Waste Recycling Group Ltd: Waste Recycling Group Ltd is proposing an Energy from
Waste (EfW) INCINERATOR facility located at the Solutia UK site in Traston Road, Newport."

Despite frequent claims of being "technology neutral", Prosiect Gwyrdd Incinerator, has declined to consider any bid other than incineration. More sustainable technologies such as anaerobic digestion, mechanical-biological treatment, or autoclaving are simply ignored despite the proven health risks of incineration and the atrocious carbon dioxide emissions associated with shipping incinerator output to Swindon, the only site available in Britain to take the approximately 90,000 tonnes a year of toxic ash produced by a proposed incinerator.

The locations of the incinerators are furthermore all in deprived areas, furthering the economic discrimination against the poor and working class endemic in Britain's waste management industry. No significant number of long-term jobs would be provided to these areas, while the health impact of emissions from the incinerator would continue to shorten life expectancy and damage public health.

Prosiect Gwyrdd Incinerator, has repeatedly promised to add Cardiff Against the Incinerator to the list of stakeholder organisations but still fails to do so; this bulletin was obtained through an unofficial but reliable channel.

Cardiff Against the Incinerator supports the zero-waste strategy articulated by campaigners such as Dr Paul Connett, who has spoken in Cardiff and Merthyr. While the Assembly calls for 70% recycling in Wales by 2025 and the Prosiect Gwyrdd partner councils "strive for" 65% by some unknown deadline, cities in Italy and Spain have achieved even higher recycling rates in the space of just a few years.

Even if incinerators made environmental sense, they still wouldn't make economic sense. Even if they made economic sense, they still wouldn't be necessary.

Note Gwyrdd meand GREEN - Prosiect Gwyrdd Incinerator

Prof Paul Connett says No to incineration in Wales

Professor Dr Paul Connett Ph.D, the notable advocate of closing the resources cycle with a zerowaste strategy, came to a Cardiff meeting sponsored by CATI last Friday.

He talked of Zero-Waste as a key step towards sustainability. The Welsh Assembly is using the landfill surcharge to drive the building of massive incinerators, but neither landfills nor incinerators are sustainable. A rational policy would give rebates for waste reduction and recycling while surcharging incineration and particularly its ash. Incinerator ash is toxic so the professor criticised the UK for charging only £3 per tonne for landfilling ash, instead of £40 per tonne on normal landfilling of waste.

Each tonne of ash (from incinerating about four tonnes of domestic waste) is about 90% grate ash and 10% flyash, the latter being highly toxic. In Germany & Switzerland they put fly ash put into nylon bags and store it in salt mines, in Japan some ash is vitrified, while Denmark sends their ash to Norway! Just the UK is very lax. Connett showed pictures from Bishops Cleve landfill (Glous), the major dump for flyash in the south and south-west, where flyash is found out to a km or two, well beyond local housing. Despite an EA (Environment Agency) inspection recording in 2005 “Control of dust inadequate in Hazardous Waste Cell”, it has been allowed to continue.

The modern incinerator is attempting to perfect a bad idea, said Connett. “Even if we made incineration safe we would never make it sensible. It simply does not make sense to spend so much money destroying resources we should be sharing with the future.”

He quoted BBC1's Panorama programme on 'Rubbish' where Dr. Kraemer (Head of EC Waste section) declared “An incinerator needs to be fed for about 20 to 30 years and in order to be economic needs an enormous input from quite a region, so for 20 to 30 years you stifle innovation, you stifle alternatives, just in order to feed that monster which you build”.

Connett described nano-particles as being the most dangerous of incinerator emissions; these ultra-fine particles take up metals and organic toxins formed in combustion and carry them through the lungs into the blood stream and then into organs within the body. He quoted expert evidence to an Incinerator Inquiry given by Prof. V. Howard, a noted medical toxicologist, yet an EA report dismissed his work as not peer-reviewed. Connett said angrily this EA writer should be fired, citing Howard's book on particle pollution and the many scientific publications he had peer-reviewed, in contrast with the EA's failure to write any report on nanoparticles.

Connett described how Zero-Waste can be approached with a series of simple steps that are practical, cost effective and politically acceptable. He praised the nine Reuse and recovery centres launched by Boris Johnson, London's mayor, at £6million, which shows partnership working between the public and private sectors.

In Nova Scotia (Canada) they diverted 50% of waste from landfill in 5 years (Halifax diverted 60%), created1000 jobs in collection and treatment of recyclables and compostables, and a further 2000 jobs created in the industries handling the recovered materials.

Connett sees 'zero-waste' as largely achieved by 2020. He reported not only Flanders' 75% recycling but also progress in Italy with 2000 communities signed up and 200 of them already reaching 70%. The Welsh Minister's claim to be leading in sustainability is rendered nonsensical by deferring 70% recycling to the long-term – not even by 2015 or 2020, but only by 2025 do they aim to reach 70%.

A questioner after the presentation said that WAG's “Waste Awareness Wales” people – who want Wales to burn waste for energy – had been invited along, but had not turned up. Not one elected political party representatives attended.

Petition to WAG

Cardiff against the incinerator petition will be presenting our petition to the Welsh assembly petitions committee 01 December 2010 at 12:30pm.

Dr Connett talk tonight

Due to last-minute shifts in schedule, the American anti-incineration campaigner Dr Paul Connett will be giving a special talk in Cardiff on Friday. Dr Connett is an expert in the health impact of incinerators and recently gave a well-received meeting in Merthyr Tydfil against the monster incinerator proposed there.
The event will be held in the upstairs of the Splott Sport & Social Club, 1a Aberdovey Street off Walker Road, Splott and starts at 6pm. All are welcome to attend. The event is free.

Assembly protest over Splott Incinerator

ASSEMBLY PROTEST OVER SPLOTT INCINERATOR

Protestors against the proposed Splott incinerator took to the steps of the Senedd today in a bid to prevent a permit being granted for the waste burner.

Members of the campaign group Cardiff Against the Incinerator gathered outside the building at 11 AM to put pressure on Assembly Government to call in the permit decision and halt the incinerator plan.

The decision to grant the permit lies with the Environment Agency and the outcome is expected to be announced at the end of October.

But protestors, who are concerned about health risks and increased traffic in the area, believe the Assembly Government could stop waste management company Viridor from building the incinerator.

Edmund Schluessel, secretary of the campaign group said the protest was designed to keep the pressure on those who were part of the decision making process.

He said: “We have to keep the pressure on. The campaign is gaining more and more support but the biggest problem is that so much of the decision making happens behind closed doors.

“The timing of today’s protest has not been ideal, but it was dictated by the Welsh Assembly Government and I’m glad so many people were able to come.

“Splott is one of the most deprived areas in Cardiff. This used to be a thriving community, but now we are taking in all of South Wales’ rubbish.”

The Welsh Assembly Government said they were unable to comment on individual permits, but a spokesperson from the Environment Agency said: “During our extensive consultation, we received many comments from people concerned about the potential health impact of the plant. We will only issue a permit to any site if we are satisfied that it will not damage the health of local people or the environment.”

What do you think about the potential for an incinerator in Splott? Do you live in the area? Let us know your views in the comments below

Cardiff incinerator could cause Legionnaire's outbreak

A new study published this month shows a waste incinerator planned for Cardiff could cause an outbreak of Legionnaire's Disease.

Researchers at the University of Northampton took samples from a waste management facility over a three-month period and discovered that more than one-third of all specimens taken contained Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1, the bacterium that causes Legionnaire's Disease. Workers at the facility “will be exposed to L. pneumophila through the respiratory route shown to be important risk in the development of Legionnaire's Disease”, the researchers concluded, as the mechanical processes underway in the waste management facility spread the bacteria by air. Similar processes, scaled up, would be in place at the Cardiff incinerator.

The study, “Isolation and identification of Legionella pneumophila from material reclamation facilities” by Ali, Phillips, Phillips & Bates, is published in the October 2010 issue of the International Journal of Environmental Health Research.

The Cardiff incinerator would have a capacity of 350,000 tonnes of waste a year, including not just the composts and plant waste which are the primary source of Legionella bacteria but also animal carcasses, animal faeces, and human body parts. Under Viridor Waste Management's plans, aeration of the waste would make the bacteria grow even more. Then, the rotting five-day-old rubbish would be handled by cranes and violently shredded before being loaded onto conveyor belts, spreading the bacteria into the air. These conditions guarantee that the entire facility and surrounding area would be contaminated with Legionella.

An ongoing outbreak of Legionnaire's Disease in the South Wales valleys has killed two and infected twenty others. Many outbreaks of Legionnaire's Disease are attributed to cooling towers, which can spread bacteria as far as 6km (3.7 miles) from their origin. While the planned Cardiff incinerator does not make use of cooling towers, this new information shows that the health risks of the incinerator go far beyond what Viridor has accounted for. Furthermore, Viridor Waste Management have been repeatedly fined and cautioned for allowing waste and odours to spread beyond the boundaries of their waste management facilities and into the surrounding area. Combined with the recent Valleys outbreak, the study reinforces Leanne Wood AM's statement that the planned Cardiff incinerator is “far too big and far too close to a residential area”.

Edmund Schluessel, secretary of Cardiff Against the Incinerator, commented, “It seems like every day we find out about a new threat to public health from the Cardiff incinerator. The experience in Caerphilly, where a waste management facility is causing huge odour problems, shows that the problem goes deeper than any technique; putting waste processing close to residential areas is irresponsible, and the market can't be trusted to take care of the problems that arise. We need public ownership and democratic management of the waste sector to protect public health and ensure that the industry works for us.”

Cardiff Against the Incinerator will be demonstrating at the Senedd from 11am to 1pm on Tuesday 12 October in opposition to Viridor's plans and in solidarity with anti-incineration groups from around Wales. On 13 October, it will meet with Cardiff & Vale University Health Board to discuss the latest information on the health effects of incineration.
--
Notes:
The original study as cited in the text is "Isolation and identification of Legionella pneumophila from material reclamation facilities", Authors: Shanom Ali; Carol Ann Phillips; Paul Scott Phillips; Margaret Bates. Published in: International Journal of Environmental Health Research, Volume 20, Issue 5 October 2010, pages 367 - 377. DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2010.484859

Information on waste handling procedures at the incinerator is contained in the Best Available Technique (BAT) statement submitted as part of Viridor's permitting application to the Environment Agency. Information on Viridor's history of fines & cautions comes from the Relevant Offences statement submitted as part of teh same application.

letter to Dr Sharon Hopkins

Dr Sharon Hopkins
Director of Public Health
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Whitchurch Hospital
Park Road
Whitchurch                      phone  029 2074 7747   to ask for her e-mail
Cardiff
CF14 7XB

Dear Dr Hopkins,
The Environment Agency informs us that they are consulting you again over the public criticism of their  arguments that this incinerator would have no effects on health.  Their letter to you of 27 Sept.  draws attention to our evidence of scientific papers saying the contrary, which have been published over recent years, but refer you only to Porta et al.
We are surprised you are asked to reconsider just on the basis of the 27 Sept. letter, in view of our complex evidence submitted to the EA consultation.  We therefore seek an appointment with you to explain our points, covering
# ignored sources of pollution due to ash-particles and emissions during abnormal operations
# ignored POPs (persistent organic pollutants) from highly brominated compounds in modern wastes
# scientific papers that find cancers are related to past incinerators, presumed to be due to trace pollutants that are not controlled in modern incinerators.
# limited control of nanoparticles, probably the most harmful fraction of emissions to air
# Glos health  authorities admitting concern over  the fine particles escaping from the Bishop’s Cleeve landfill (where Viridor’s flyash etc. would be sent) “unsure if living near the site is harmful to public health, with several studies still investigating the matter” **.
We understand the LHB did not consult the public before sending in their response to the Environment Agency last year.   Will you ensure that the new Health Board does better?  Our meeting this week wished to meet  with you on Monday next, 11 October, seeing your need to respond quickly to the EA.   We would ask for some time on that day to meet  with yourself or a deputy and look forward to your reply.

** www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/news/Hazardous-waste-escaping-Bishop-s-Cleeve-site/article-2321415-detail/article.html

“The Battle Hymn” from Paul Connett

“The Battle Hymn” from  Paul Connett   (tune  dei rifiuti ??)

We don’t want incineration

We don’t want incineration

We don’t want incineration

We know there’s a better way!

Mine eyes have seen the garbage

That’s a smoldering on the grate

We must stop incineration

Before it is too late

Unless we wish the dangers

We had better separate

And we must do it now!

We don’t want incineration

We don’t want incineration

We don’t want incineration

We know there’s a better way!

Paul Connett - Slide 1

File Format: Microsoft Powerpoint - View as HTML
Dr Paul Connett. Professor Emeritus of Chemistry. St Lawrence University, Canton, NY .... The Battle Hymn of Garbage. Mine eyes have seen the garbage ...

Together we can stop the Cardiff Incinerator

Join Us!

.

What is the incinerator?

Viridor Waste Management, a firm with a decade-long record of criminal violations of environmental law, have applied for a permit to build and operate a waste incinerator in Trident Park, Cardiff, less than half a mile from homes, schools and a wildlife preserve. If

built, the incinerator would bring hundreds of lorries every day filled with rubbish through crowded residential streets and contaminate the surrounding air, soil and water with toxic chemicals. People living in Cardiff's working-class neighbourhoods would be put at

increased risk of cancer and birth defects in their children.

Who are we?

Cardiff Against the Incinerator has been founded as an independent, resident-led campaign against waste incineration in Cardiff and anywhere in Wales. It has the support of councillors, Assembly Members, political parties, trade unions and environmental

groups. We demand: no incinerators in Wales, democratic control of waste management, and sustainable solutions that put people ahead of profits.

How do we fight it?

We can't expect big business and stitched-up councils to look out for us. We have to organise ourselves and build up a mass movement so big that business and government can't ignore us. We've conducted demonstrations, huge public meetings, and now we're

preparing for our biggest event ever, a peaceful mass protest.

Why do we protest?

The Welsh Assembly Government have the power to call in the permit decision on the Cardiff incinerator and stop Viridor's plan once and for all. They'll do nothing unless we

apply pressure on them and make the media and the AMs take notice. A gathering of hundreds will remind the Assembly: they work for us! Make an appointment with your local

.

When and where are we protesting?

Gather at 10:30am for a 11am start on Tuesday, October 12th on the front steps of the Senedd, near the Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay

Contact Cardiff Against the Incinerator on 07947 214169

or by e-mail at cardiffagainsttheincinerator@gmail.com

for more information. Also sign the online petition at

http://tinyurl.com/cardiffburner