Friday, September 12, 2008

incinerator in Cardiff - missed the consultation?

Article about incinerator in Cardiff.
Will new waste plant be ‘iconic landmark’? - WalesOnline 11 Sep 2008 ... A NEW waste incinerator in Cardiff Docks could become an unlikely “iconic landmark”, business leaders involved in the project have claimed.

The latest technique employed by proponents of incineration is to spin the dirty practice with attractive terms that don't reflect reality – in this case, 'waste to energy' facilities. On the surface, generating energy from waste sounds like a great idea, but the truth is that it still burning garbage.

Major issues with these ill-conceived facilities.

The amount of energy required to fuel garbage incinerators is enormous, and they are often net energy losers when the total energy inputs and outputs are compared. Incinerators are an expensive symptom of the problems inherent with our over-consumptive society and are not the answer or even part of an answer to the waste issue. Because incinerators are dependent on an uninterruptible stream "fuel", in the form of garbage, they actually perpetuate further consumption and constitute part of the waste problem. Sadly, much of the waste they burn is made up of recyclable materials and organics that can be reused or composted.

Incineration emissions are toxic and, in the burning process, materials bind and form new rogue compounds that only a chemist could begin to figure out. Also produced by incinerators is a solid toxic ash, which must be disposed of as hazardous waste. The volume of toxic ash produced can be 30-40% as much as the original waste inputs.

The main issue remains; the amount of unnecessary waste our society generates is increasing and this problem cannot be solved merely by finding new ways to bury or burn this waste. Instead, we must attack the root of the issue by demanding stringent waste reduction targets. These authorities must also stop downloading the waste issue onto councils that do not have the legislative power to eliminate importation of waste, unnecessary packaging, disposable products and one-time beverage containers.

Waste incinerators are not waste leaders – they are waste losers.

  1. Public can get close look at incinerator proposal - WalesOnline

    10 Sep 2008 ... A PUBLIC consultation on a proposed plant that burns waste to create energy has been launched in Cardiff.
    www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/09/10/public-can-get-close-look-at-incinerator-proposal-91466-21716353/



  2. £54m claim turns up the heat over authority’s incinerator ...

    A LOCAL authority has launched a £54m lawsuit over a troubled waste plant that was once hailed as a model for the whole of the UK.
    www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics-news/2008/07/12/54m-claim-turns-up-the-heat-over-authority-s-incinerator-91466-21328769/
  3. Council facing ’waste’ lawsuit - WalesOnline

    Residents opposed it on health grounds, claiming there was no truly safe limit for the dioxins emitted by the incinerator. But councils, who point out that ...
    www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics-news/2008/05/01/council-facing-waste-lawsuit-91466-20844398/