Cardiff Waste Strategy Burn Pollute Make CO2

Politics of Waste
2 urgent matters- Cardiff council is debating Cardiff's Waste Strategy tomorrow while distributing Cardiff Council Capital Times - propaganda misinformation paper Capital times (Feb edition)
The waste strategy is to build super dirty smelly incinerators without regard to the cost and depending on WAG subsidy and not consider the other options.
Executive Business Meeting Committee  3 County Hall 13/01/2011 Start: 02:00 PM

Meanwhile Cardiff Council are currently sending out the Capital times (Feb edition)delivered to me yesterday with the message Turning a problem into a resource - that is Re-branding incineration as a means of recovery rather than waste disposal creates the impression that burning our rubbish is environmentally-friendly, which it clearly is not.
Other authorities had already achieved a lot higher recycling than Cardiff - South Oxfordshire had doubled recycling to 73%, and San Francisco which recycled 77% was aiming for 100% by 2020 and had rejected incineration on cost grounds  Basically Cardiff council and the Welsh Assembly government is saying that the Welsh are too feckless to recycle properly - the triumph of despair over hope.
The council seems to be more interested in publishing subjective and misleading information than in properly informing people about what’s happening. Local authorities should ensure that publicity relating to their own policies and proposals are not designed to be (or are not likely to be interpreted as) aimed at influencing the public’s opinions about the policies of the authority according to government guidelines.

From Cardiff Councils free newspaper Feb 2011 edition providing free misinformation to every home in Cardiff.Front page.."Tackling the problem of waste"
"Cardiff is preparing to move to a greener future....council looking to even more sustainable whilst remaining affordable, in its push to reduce the city carbon footprint and drive recycling rates higher...."Page 9 Turning a problem into a resource
"Four companies have been shortlisted to progress to the stage in the process to find
a solution for waste that cannot be recycled or composted. Prosiect Gwrydd will deliver a contract to provide treatment facilities for residual waste - what is left once recycling and composting have been maximised (lie) - five councils including Cardiff in South Wales, including Cardiff in South Wales . Cllr Mark Stephens chair of the project's joint committee said "all partners share the aspiration of the Towards Zero waste strategy published by WAG so we have ensured the bids going forward are consistent with those principles. (lie) The companies that have been invited to submit detailed solutions are
1. Coventa Energy proposes incinerator at Brig y Cwm, Merthyr Tydfil
2. Veolia ES Aurora 3.  Viridor Waste Management Trident Park, Cardiff.
4.. Waste Recycling Group Traston Rd, Newport.
The WAG has set a 70% target for recycling and composting and the five partner councils
- Cardiff, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport and The Vale of Glamorgan have developed strategies aimed at a 65% combined target with at least a further 5% being recovered through the residual waste treatment process. Cllr Stephens added "The priority for each partner authority is to recycle and compost as much waste as possible. We acknowledge and are grateful for the financial assistance provided by the WAG which allows us to develop the infrastructure and capacity (build dirty incinerators) to meet these challenging targets."
Cardiff council should put out real information and not simply propaganda on behalf of the council.
Cardiff Waste Strategy
The turgid Cardiff Council Waste Strategy document is on this page
This offers only one solution. CO2 making Incineration dressed up as 'energy from waste'. All along we have described Project Gwrydd as project incineration while they claimed to be technology neutral and they come up with incinerator or incinerator or incinerator or incinerator
Some sources of energy are not renewable or sustainable. Energy from Waste is bound to be raised in this debate Incineration of waste are not a renewable energy form NOR IS IT GREEN
When applied to incinerators, "energy from waste" is a dangerous euphemism. Far from being a sensible, environmentally friendly solution to the enormous amount of waste created in Wales, incineration is a nasty quick fix to deal with our ever-growing waste mountain
The news that a 400m waste plant planned for Wales Jan 04 2011 to build one of the UK’s largest waste incineration plants on the outskirts of Merthyr Tydfil is shocking.
This is an Energy from waste CON WAG under pressure to reduce landfill are opting for incineration of waste under the pretext that they can make electricity from the process! We know the electricity from one of these large incinerators is pretty small, compared with normal power stations (several 100MW up to Aberthaw’s 1450MW) and produces toxic ash and air pollution. They set no requirement on energy efficiency, despite Welsh strategy on 60% minimum.
Claims that significant energy could generated from waste are wrong - even Covanta's huge Merthyr proposal would generate a tiny 60MW compared with Aberthaw's 1450 MW.
WAGs and Cardiff Councils are Re-branding incineration as a means of recovery rather than waste disposal to create the impression that burning our rubbish is environmentally-friendly, which it clearly is not. Cardiff council and WAW seem to be more interested in publishing subjective and misleading information than in properly informing people about what’s happening. The People of Wales deserve to be told the truth.
Incinerators produce CO2 
Incineration also involves the release of high levels of CO2, the main climate warming gas. Accounting for recovered energy, incineration is accompanied by twice or more the CO2 per unit of power than the same energy (as electricity or combined heat-and-power) produced from fossil fuel. From the start (2015) Viridor’s incinerator would be worse in fossil CO2 emissions than the worst coal-fired plant and nearly 4 times worse than the UK average generation. Full and proper consideration to climate change is a requirement within the context of the planning process though overlooked it seems. CO2 and incineration The Dirty Truth
The Welsh Assembly and WLGA must NOT promote incineration.
Energy from waste = a waste of energy. Plastics and paper are the main source of calorific value in an incinerator. Burning plastics, which are oil based, is effectively burning fossil fuels – the main factor behind global warming. Paper is produced from wood by an energy intensive process. Burning it wastes energy and resources as well as generating pollution. This information has been available for over a decade
Other countries have achieved much higher recycling rates 70% and higher within a few years so there is no excuse to build incinerators. Putting off 70% recycling till 2025 means going slow on recycling, when some countries (Falmand/Berlgium) and municipalities have already reached this level
More jobs will be created from better recycling as this new report shows.
We will never achieve 'Zero Waste' if Jane Davidson,and our AM'sand Cllrs allow companies to construct massive pollution making facilities like the incinerators above.
Why is the Welsh Assembly Government giving incineration and Prosiect Gwyrdd a subsidy of £9 million/yr which they propose to extend through out Wales.
Meanwhile the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA refuse to go for 'high recycling' pre-2020 and are trying to lock us into expensive incinerator)
Prosiect Gwyrdd Incinerator was not as they claimed to be "technology neutral" with their 4 chosen ones. Incinerator or incinerator or incinerator or incinerator. Prosiect 'Gwyrdd' = Project Incinerator
Jane Davidsons Phoney consumer group promoting incineration that is Waste Awareness Misinformation Wales costing us £1 million/yr. A deputation from FOE met with WAW last week and established that WAW is wholly funded and steered by WAG and sees its role as delivering WAG's plans - which are
a) to delay the 70% recycling till 2025 even though many countries and regions are already achieving or approaching this level,
b) to burn waste rather than produce biogas for domestic use, and
c) to subsidise incineration instead of allowing MBT at half the cost, with use of products in land reclamation and enhancing forestry/coppicing.
The deputation outlined FoE Cymru's critique of WAG's change in waste policy from minimising incineration and landfill to the present one of promoting and subsiding incineration over landfill. This critique and the real 'zero waste' policy were commissioned from PIC consultants. They pointed out that such an alternative that maximises recyclables and reclaims compostables through MBT (mechanical and bio-techniques) has been adopted in Ireland, where an international, team showed it to be sound. In comparison, WAG's policy is unsound, using poor computer software to get very questionable pro-incinerator results. WAG's officials (Andy Rees & co) must know that as they have failed to defend their results against FOE's thorough and convincing critique
WAW Waste Awareness Misinformation Wales said that they are an arm of WAG and that their 'survey' (Wales would like to burn not bury waste) was at the behest of Andy Rees, Jasper Roberts and co of WAG. They told them that not only was the survey loaded but the results falsified since, in fact people in the focus groups they had expressed strong worries about pollution of the air from burning!
Incinerators projects have a long term commitment of maybe 25 years. Landfill Tax is paid on bottom ash from incinerators. For every five tonnes of waste combusted, around one tonne of ash is produced. A government might well increase this tax in the future. In Ireland Minister for the Environment John Gormley's  plan to introduce a levy on waste going to incineration
The Irish government is proposing an incineration tax on the basis that incinerators are worse for the environment and resources than MBT - mechanical and biological treatments - which return bio-material to land or, if too contaminated, send to landfill. Yet the Welsh government subsidises incinerators and aims to ban MBT


ps
An updated Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity is currently going through Parliament. It states: “Local authorities should ensure that publicity relating to their own policies and proposals are not designed to be (or are not likely to be interpreted as) aimed at influencing the public’s opinions about the policies of the authority. The proposed new Code now contains specific guidance on the frequency, content and appearance of local authority newspapers or magazines. It also proposes to prohibit the use of lobbyists where the expenditure is intended to influence local people on political issues.
 Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity...
Summary. The Government is consulting on a new Code of Recommended Practice ...
www.communities.gov.uk/.../localgovernment/publicitycodeconsult2010

Does WAG supports Merthyr incinertaor application?

Can't change hundreds of tons of rubbish into NOTHING! No incineration produces ZERO Waste . Ms Davidson said: "We need new collection services and new infrastructure  (incinerators?..really?) to use waste in the best possible way (waste to toxins best?) and stop dumping in landfill. "The extra Assembly Government funding opens the way for Prosiect Gwyrdd to move forwards so we can make the most of our resources by producing much-needed energy," she added. (?????) ... But when applied to incinerators, "energy from waste" is a dangerous euphemism. Far from being a sensible, environmentally friendly solution to the enormous amount of  waste created in Wales, incineration is a nasty quick fix to deal with our ever-growing waste mountain. Government "peddling myth" of green energy-from-waste here .. FoE's Senior Waste Campaigner, Dr Michael Warhurst said: "The government and waste industry must stop peddling                                                                                                                                                                                                     the myth that waste incineration is green energy. Incinerators can generate electricity, but they produce more climate emissions than a gas-fired power station." And they are using your money.. The announcement followed the proposal of a grant from WAG of up to £7.8 million to help develop plans for EfW projects across South Wales (RWW 654). Called Prosiect Gwyrdd (Project Green),..(couldn't make it up).. the scheme is a joint initiative between five councils in South Wales (Cardiff, Newport, Monmouth, Vale of Glamorgan and Caerphilly). Covanta Waste-to-Toxins Incinerator Why are the assembly government been encouraging a company that has a string of environmental breaches and union-bashing... why the secrecy? Thursday 29 January 2009 Covanta press release Covanta En ergy to Build $575 Million Energy-from-Waste Plant in Wales, UK Welsh Assembly Government Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones, said, “I welcome Covanta’s inte rest in Wales. The company has a strong reputation for waste to energy activities in the United States in terms of municipal and commercial and industrial waste. Covanta is at the start of a journey which will involve it in applying for planning permission and in tendering for local authority projects alongside oth er interested parties.”

30 Jan 09 Covanta Energy has had detailed discussions about the project with WAG) and IBW, and will begin consulting February 2 with the local population
1st Feb 2009 ...The project, which is being developed following discussions
with International Business Wales (IBW) and the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG),.....

Huw ‘gravy train’ Lewis, labour assembly member for Merthyr Tydfil (even though he lives in Penarth with fellow Labour AM Lynne Neagle) has recently been heard criticising US firm Coventa over plans to build a huge waste INCINERATOR in his constituency. Lewis is right to express his concerns. Covanta was found guilty of violating employment laws in the US and has been fined hundreds of thousands of pounds after exceeding emission levels of carcinogenic chemicals from its American incinerators.

Promoted by IBW "the investment arm of WAG", visited by the deputy First Minister who then organised a "very high leve l meeting" 20 Oct. (brief prepared by IBW's CEO Geraint Jones with input from Covanta). Covanta chiefs met by Rhodri Morgan and Jane Davidson when they came over... And as the e-mails say. they had to be careful not to be seen as promoting Covanta. So at the launch visit on 2 Feb., they decided the DFM was "unable to meet the company" as originally programmed (further e-mails released under FoI).

Layne, Stephen (DE&T - PSCS)
Powell. Mark (DE&T PSCS)
26 January 2009 17:38
Mel Hiscox
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc: Linnard, Sharon (DE&T Ops Invest Wales); Williams, lan (DE&T -lBW); Geraint Jones; Hnyda, Mike (DE&T
-lBW); EKin-Wood. Shan (DE&T MCT); PS Deputy First Minister
Subject: 20090126
Importance: High
'Thanks Mel.
think that we have a potential problem with the Minister being involved in the formal announcement. That concerns the fact that the company has not yet applied for planning permission, that it does not intend to do so for some months, that the
activity could generate local hostility and that the planning application could potentially be called in.
have spoken to Chris Warner who is uneasy but we have agreed to re-group tomorrow.
"'Mark Powell
-Head of Government Business
'Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services and International Business Wales
Department for the Economy and Transport
'Ias Glyndwr
Kingsway
Cardiff F10 3AH
Tel: +44 29 2036 8253
Mobile: +44 7769 883271
From: EKin-Wood, Shan (DE&T MCT)
sent: 26 January 2009 10:02
To: Powell, Mark (DE&T PSCS)
Subject: FW: Covanta
Hi Mark - do you want me to draft some comments or do u have some bullet points with the key messages we want to get across. Having read the documents we obviously need to mention his visit to several of the company 's operations in US, world leading technology etc plus potential for attracting others companies, environmental benefits - although we need to be a bit careful as planning has not been lodged or approved yet.
How do you want to do this??
regards
Shan
Shan Ekin-Wood
Operational PR Manager/Rheolydd Cysylltiadau Cyhoeddus Gweithredol
Welsh Assembly Govemment/llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru
TeVFfon 02920 898636
Mob.07767486935
E-mail/E-bost shan.ekin-wood@wales.gsLgov.uk
From: Mel Hiscox [mailto:Mel.Hiscox@ibwales.com]
Sent: 25 January 2009 19:55
To: Powell, Mark (DE&T PSCS)
Cc: Geralnt Jonesj EKin-Wood, Shan (DE&T Mer); PS Deputy Rrst Minister
Subject: Covanta
Hi Mark.
Hope you had a good weekend.
20/0212009
~ discussed on Friday, please find attached suggested press release from Covanta.
From our side everything looks fine on content and the company have been very agreeable to us working this up with them.
With regards to the DFM comment requested, Chrls Warner IS aware that I'm channelling this through yourself and will wait to hear from you (Shan also). Could I just ask that any comment include a reference to the DFM's visit to the company and meeting with them during the Ryder Cup in Kentucky.

Further detailed project info. is also attached in a draft letter (awaiting further changes so please treat as confidential at this stage) which will be sent out to all local authority leaders on Saturday 31 61 January (For North Wales consortium, Chris Everet Flintshire) is leading so a personalised version of this will be sent to him for the group). An electronic copy will also be emailed
to all of them on Monday, February 2nd to coincide with the launch date. The only departure from this will be a planned meeting on Monday, 26th January with Jeff Edwards of MTBC but I understand from the client he is already aware of and supportive of the project.

For your background info., plann ed timeline of events over the next week or so are as follows:
• Monday, 26th January - Meeting with MTBC.
• Wednesday, 28th January - Working lunch with DFM to advise and discuss launch.
• Thursday 29th
/ Friday 30th
- Other senior officials from MTBC and CCBC to be advised of forthcoming release (not
detailed info. but heads up )
• Monday, 2nd February - 11 :OOam Press release and official launch date. DFM to visit site for tour and press.
:Chris / Shan.......Thanks again for your help with this. I shall funnel further developments through Mark this week given time
jiff. etc. we have one point of contact with most up to date info.) Geraint is also in Wales on business this week so where
Jossible will attend relevant meetings from our side also.
Mark....hope this is OK, thanks for you r help. Please give me a call to chat through your thoughts when you get a moment.
Hope to speak soon, all the best,
Mel
Mr. Mel Hiscox Senior Vice President International Business Wales
Wales International Center, The Chrysler Building
405 Lexington Avenue, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10174
Direct: +1 (646) 7 92 8922/ Cell (US): +1 (917) 815 7294/ Mobile (UK): +44 (0)7757 681926
www.ibwales.com

International Business Wales is the main investment arm of the Welsh Assembly Government. Our free and confidential service is aimed at giving you everything you need to set up or expand your company's operations in Wales. UK.

Jeff Edwards is the Mert h yr Leader (Independents) who denied he ever met Covanta pre-january, and then had to admit lying because they had agreed to keep the 22 Sept meeting secret.
'Mr Lewis and Labour Group leader Brendan Toomey claim to have seen documents released under a Freedom of Information request that show Coun Edwards signalled support for Covanta in September, despite claims in January that he had no previous dealings with the company.' more here

"COUN CLIVE TO VEY Gurnos Ward

Labour group leader Brendon Toomey added: ‘It appears that clandestine meetings have taken place’.

In my reply I wrote: ‘If Councillor Toomey is worried about ‘clandestine meetings’ he should look no further than then Labour Party in Cardiff and perhaps his ward colleague Huw Lewis AM’.

I have been proved to be correct. I now have a copy of an e-mail sent from Covanta Energy to the Welsh Assembly Government dated September 23, 2008. It was quite clear that the Welsh Assembly Government have been in negotiations with Covanta Energy since September 2008"

Residents A

gainst Ffos-y-Fran (R.A.F.F.)

.INCINERATOR INFORMATION PAGE

Campaigners say USA firm’s safety record should bar it from Wales

Gordon James, director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said: “This is the latest in a number of worrying incidents where this company has been cited for unacceptable practices. There should be no welcome in Wales for a company with such a blemished track record.”

Cardiff Planning Officers give incinerator ahelping hand

Do we believe the officers that 'no urban incinerator will accept a visit' -?

THIS is an INCINERATOR even though it avoids this word where possible!!!
NOT a clean 'ENERGY from Waste' ??? Who are they kiddding and there is no customer for this dirty energy!

A HUGE amount of emphasis in the report on energy from Waste
8.6 Sustainability
The proposed facility would provide (at capacity) approximately 30 Mega
Watts of electricity, enough to serve 30,000 homes. This is considered to be in
accordance with the aims of Planning Policy Wales and TAN 21. This is an
important feature of the proposal and..

The Welsh Assembly Government states that energy from waste facilities are
only acceptable if ‘they form part of an integrated approach and that they only
recover energy from residual waste that remains after as much recyclable and
compostable material as practically possible has been removed; they include
heat and power wherever practicable.

The applicant states that the proposed facility is intended to treat residual waste and that materials (such as metals) are to be recovered for recycling..

The carbon footprint of the development
Chapter 5.3 of the submitted Environmental Statement analyses the carbon
footprint of the proposed facility compared with landfill...(WRATE). Compared with Landfill an overall carbon saving of
between -108,000 tonnes and -196,000 tonnes will be achieved in the year 2013. Provided a user for the heat produced can be located the carbon footprint of the proposed facility is estimated to be in the order of -30,000
tonnes CO2eqv in 2013

Hazards of disposing of toxic fly ash sdismissed in this ONE para so this is big issue no 2 to tackle!!
The toxic fly ash is the residue of combustion removed from the flue gases
prior to release into the atmosphere, in order to reduce the pollutants emitted.
The facility would produce approximately 10,500 tonnes per annum. The fly
ash would be removed from the facility using enclosed tankers and would be
transported to a hazardous waste landfill (currently there are none in Wales)..


Looks like this will clash with SEW Waste group meeting - do we have a protest outside..etc7.5 Cardiff Friends of the Earth and South-East Wales Friends of the Earth Waste

From the report..the objections in addition to those by cllrs.
Then 8. ANALYSIS starts
8.1 This is a major application for an energy from waste facility which will comprise
14,400 square metres of internal floorspace and will treat approximately
350,000 tonnes of residual waste per annum.

FROM THE PAPERS to be found here
http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?id=2292&$state=calendarmeeting&$committeeID=1423&$meetingdate=06/05/2009&$eventrec=5616

Group object to the proposed development on the following grounds (The full
objection letter is available for public viewing as a background paper):
• The proposed incinerator will, during the long period of its contract,
contravene the requirements laid down in the Waste Hierarchy to;
minimise waste arisings by reduction / prevention, and secure every
possible recovery of materials by re-use, recycling or composting before
burning.
• The proposed incinerator is not demonstrated to be the Best Practicable
Environmental Option, particularly with respect to climate change impact.
• There is public concern that the proposed incinerator will constitute a
health risk because hazardous substances produced, for example ultra
fine particle (
8. ANALYSIS
8.1 This is a major application for an energy from waste facility which will comprise
14,400 square metres of internal floorspace and will treat approximately
350,000 tonnes of residual waste per annum. The facility has a predicted
lifespan of approximately 25 years but may operate beyond this timeframe.
The proposed development includes a waste reception area including tipping
hall and bunkers, offices, a visitors centre, two stacks a weighbridge and
parking for HGVs and cars. The site will employ approximately 50 employees
on a shift basis and will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. Deliveries
to the facility will generally be between the hours of 0700 and 1700 hours.

8.2 The agent has advised that there are approximately 22 energy from waste
facilities which are operating within the United Kingdom, treating residual
municipal, commercial and industrial waste and that there are also
approximately 10 further energy from waste facilities which are in the pipeline.
The applicant Viridor currently operates a clinical energy from waste facility in
Plymouth and is currently developing additional facilities in Exeter, (permission
was granted in May 2008 for a 60,000 tonne per annum facility) and Slough
(planning permission was granted in 2000 for a 400,000 tonne per annum
facility). Viridor has also submitted planning applications for similar facilities in
Oxford and East Lothian, which are being considered currently by the relevant
local planning authorities. It should be noted that the energy from waste
facilities which have been approved by other local planning authorities have
also given rise to a great deal of opposition.

8.3 There is an identified need for another method of disposing of residual waste
for not only Cardiff but for all of the Project Gwerdd Local Authorities of South
East Wales: Caerphilly, Cardiff, Monmouthshire, Newport and the Vale of
Glamorgan. The Lamby Way landfill site had a remaining capacity of only
approximately 200,000 tonnes in September 2008, with historic rates of
300,000 tonnes of waste per annum. The only other operating landfill site
within the Project Gwerdd authorities is at Dock Way Newport which has a
remaining capacity of approximately 300,000 tonnes with a disposal rate of
approximately 90,000 tonnes per annum (ie. approximately 4 years
remaining).

8.4 It is considered that the key planning considerations are as follows:
• European and National Policy
• Sustainability
• Land use policy
• Landscape and Visual Amenity
• Amenity including Air quality and health
• Water resources
• Transportation
• Archaeology and Cultural heritage
• Impact upon the Statutory Designated sites (ie. the Severn Estuary
Special Protection Area (SPA), Site of Conservation Importance (SCI) and
Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) and Cardiff Beech
Woods Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
8.5 European and National Policy
In accordance with the requirements of European Directives, it is necessary to
divert the amount of municipal solid waste disposed of by landfill. Technical
Advice Note (TAN) 21 states that another potential for the waste resource is
as a fuel. ‘Recovery of energy can be done in a number of ways including
direct incineration of parts of the waste arisings that are otherwise of limited
use. Proposals that incorporate combined power and heat plant could
contribute towards district heating schemes. Energy recovery via incineration
is known not to be popular with some sectors of the public, even thought the
industry is now using cleaner and safer technologies than ever, with vastly
reduced and controllable emissions. In a policy area that is aiming to rely less
and less on landfill, the potential for energy from waste facilities is growing’.
The provision of an energy from waste facility accords with the local authority’s
overall commitment to reducing the amount of waste generated within Cardiff,
the reuse of waste materials wherever possible, and the recovery of value
from the residual waste fraction. It is considered that such a facility is required
as part of an integrated and sustainable waste management strategy. The
proposed development is considered to be in accordance with the Deposit
Cardiff Unitary Development Plan (October 2003), which states ‘Proposals for
the development of waste management facilities will be permitted if: g) they
include suitable proposals for energy recovery and the beneficial after-use
products’.
8.6 Sustainability
The proposed facility would provide (at capacity) approximately 30 Mega
Watts of electricity, enough to serve 30,000 homes. This is considered to be in
accordance with the aims of Planning Policy Wales and TAN 21. This is an
important feature of the proposal and, in the interests of sustainability, it is
considered that if planning permission were to be granted, persons having
relevant interest in the application site should enter into a binding planning
obligation in agreement with the Council under Section 106 of the Town and
Country Planning Act 1990 requiring them to use best endeavours to use and
market the energy generated from the incineration process and to produce an
annual report detailing the outcome of these endeavours for presentation to
the local planning authority and also to use reasonable endeavours to market
the bottom ash derived from the incineration process for use as a secondary
aggregate, as indicated in paragraph 1.2 (iv) above.
8.7 Land Use Policy
In terms of land use policy the principle of the development of the site for such
a use is considered acceptable. The site falls within an area of land with
planning permission for business, industry and warehousing. The proposal is
considered in accordance with the aims of Policy 55 of the Local Plan and the
supplementary guidance on ‘Locating Waste Management Facilities’(2006)
which both state that such proposals will generally be encouraged toward
existing areas or allocations for general industry. (see the Strategic Planning
Manager’s advice, paragraph 5.1)
8.8 Landscape and Visual Amenity
The design and external appearance of the development is considered
acceptable. The site is located within an industrial area which is typified by
utilitarian looking industrial buildings. The Strategic Planning Manager
(Design) comments that the quality of the design is high for a facility of this
type (see paragraph 5.2 above). The design has also been endorsed by the
Design Commission for Wales.
8.9 Amenity including Air quality and health
The closest residential areas are a distance of approximately 580 metres away
at Adventurer’s Quay, Galleon Way and Lewis Road (see paragraph 1.2(ii).
The Environmental Statement (ES) contains an assessment of ‘Amenity
Issues’ (Section19) which covers the following matters: Litter, vermin and
pests, waste, discharge to water, air quality, dust and odour, traffic and noise
and concludes that the proposal would not have any detrimental impact on the
surrounding environment.
The submitted Environmental Statement (ES) addresses emissions in two
categories; traffic emissions and emissions from the stack. The ES states that
the majority of traffic will access the site via Rover Way and Ocean Way. A
DMRB assessment was carried out in relation to the Gypsy / Traveller site at
Rover Way. The assessment indicates that ‘long term and short term air
quality objectives / limit values for NO2 and PM10 will be achieved, with or
without the operational traffic for all assessment years’. The ES states that the
maximum predicted short term and long term ground level process
contributions from the facility at the appropriate WID emissions limits have
been classified as extremely small or very small (ie. <5%>2000) between the highest predicted soil concentrations and soil
assessment criteria that are protective of the most sensitive human receptors’.
Furthermore, following consideration of the proposal including the submitted
Environmental Statement neither the Environment Agency (EA) nor the
Operational Manager Environment (Pollution Control) have raised any
objections, subject to the imposition of appropriate conditions (see paragraphs
5.3 and 6.1 above). It is not considered that the proposed development would
prejudice the amenities of residents etc. within the surrounding areas.
It should also be noted that the proposed facility will require an Environmental
Permit from the EA prior to beneficial operation. The potential emissions from
the incinerator will have to be analysed very stringently by the EA to ensure
that the emissions comply with EU legislation. The EA is the competent
authority for assessing the detailed impacts upon the environment from
emissions.
In view of the public concern regarding the proposal (see section 7 above), it is
recommended that the persons having relevant interest in the application site
should enter into a binding planning obligation in agreement with the Council
under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 requiring them
to establish and support a Liaison Group to involve, (inter alia), the operator,
the local planning authority, local members and representatives of the local
community.
Furthermore, it is considered that the Environment Agency should be
requested to give consideration to the inclusion of a condition to secure a
programme for monitoring and mitigation of emissions to air using a
continuous sampling system on any pollution prevention and Control
Authorisation, and if not, to continually monitor the need for the inclusion of
such a condition in any subsequent review of this authorisation.
8.10 Water Resources
There are no water features present on the site and the site is not within an
area which is prone to flooding. The submitted Environmental Statement
states that the main potential for impact upon hydrogeology is during the
construction phase. Conditions 4-7 regarding contaminated land measures will
ensure that risks to ground water during both construction and operation are
monitored and minimised (see the consultation response received from the
Environment Agency paragraph 6.1 above).
8.11 Transportation
The applicant has carried out a Transport Assessment which was submitted
as part of the Environmental Statement. The Transport Assessment indicates
that the proposed development would generate approximately 82 additional 2-
way trips on the local highway network during the morning peak (ie. 0730 to
0900) and some 62 trips during the evening peak. The additional traffic
generated from the energy from waste facility is predicted to represent an
increase of 3%. Many of the objections received relate to the increase in traffic
from the proposed facility. However, on the proviso that the applicant is willing
to enter into a section 106 Agreement with regard to the provision of a
financial contribution of £180,293 towards public transport movements, traffic
management and telematics, the Operational Manager Transportation has no
objections. The applicant would also be required to enter into a section 106
Agreement with regard to the provision of a revised Travel Plan, in order to
promote travel by sustainable modes of transportation amongst employees
(see paragraph 5.4 above).
8.12 Archaeology and cultural heritage
Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust (GGAT) advise that due to the ground
conditions it would be inappropriate to require a scheme of archaeological
work to be undertaken prior to commencement of development on the site, as
this could result in damage to archaeological resource which may otherwise
remain undisturbed on the site. GGAT have advised (see paragraph 6.3
above) that subject to a condition requiring the applicant to submit a detailed
programme of investigation for the archaeological resource following the
outline given in the environmental statement being attached to any consent
then there would be no objections (see Condition 22).
8.13 Impact upon the Statutory Designated sites
In response to the objections received from CCW (see paragraph 6.2 above),
regarding the need for an Appropriate Assessment to be undertaken by the
Local Authority prior to the determination of the application, the Strategic
Planning Manager (Ecology) (see paragraph 5.5) advises that Cardiff Council
has to reach a view on the possible significant effect of these proposals in the
context of European sites. The possible significant effects would be through
the media of aerial and water pollution, which are regulated by the
Environment Agency. The facility would require an Environmental Permit to
operate even if planning permission was granted. Furthermore, if an
Appropriate Assessment were to be undertaken for this proposal then this
would be inconsistent with the local authority’s stance on previous proposals
(such as Celsa Steelworks and Biomass Plant 08/2653C), and would set a
precedent for future projects. It should be noted that the local planning
authority does not have the technical competencies in assessing complex
issues relating to emissions.
8.14 Many objections have been received to the proposed energy from waste
facility (see section 7 above). In response to objections received and not
already addressed within the above report:
Concerns regarding emissions and the resultant impact upon health
The Operational Manager Environment (Pollution Control) and the
Environment Agency (EA) have been consulted with regard to the emissions
from the proposed facility and both have no objections (see paragraphs 5.3,
6.1 and 8.9 above). It will fall to the EA to consider the emissions very
stringently during the Environmental Permit stage. It should be noted that
without an Environmental Permit the facility will not be permitted to operate.
Incineration is not an efficient method of waste treatment and will discourage
recycling
The Welsh Assembly Government states that energy from waste facilities are
only acceptable if ‘they form part of an integrated approach and that they only
recover energy from residual waste that remains after as much recyclable and
compostable material as practically possible has been removed; they include
heat and power wherever practicable. The applicant states that the proposed
facility is intended to treat residual waste and that materials (such as metals)
are to be recovered for recycling. It should be noted that significant investment
has been made in recycling and composting within the local authority in recent
years and the local authority is committed to increasing rates of recycling and
reducing residual waste.

Hazards of disposing of toxic fly ash
The toxic fly ash is the residue of combustion removed from the flue gases
prior to release into the atmosphere, in order to reduce the pollutants emitted.
The facility would produce approximately 10,500 tonnes per annum. The fly
ash would be removed from the facility using enclosed tankers and would be
transported to a hazardous waste landfill (currently there are none in Wales).

The carbon footprint of the development
Chapter 5.3 of the submitted Environmental Statement analyses the carbon
footprint of the proposed facility compared with landfill. The calculations are
carried out in accordance with Waste and Resources Assessment Tool for the
Environment (WRATE). Compared with Landfill an overall carbon saving of
between -108,000 tonnes and -196,000 tonnes will be achieved in the year
2013. Provided a user for the heat produced can be located the carbon
footprint of the proposed facility is estimated to be in the order of -30,000
tonnes CO2eqv in 2013.

Height of chimney stack
There is currently a chimney stack on the site which measures approximately
80 metres in height. The proposed measures a maximum of 90 metres with an
additional 10 metre lightning rod. The facility is located within an area of
industry and is a typical feature which one would expect to see in such an
area. It should also be noted that the Strategic Planning Manager (design)
has no objections (see paragraph 5.2 above).
8.15 Subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement (see paragraphs 5.4,
8.6, 8.9 and 8.11 above), it is recommended that planning permission be
granted, subject to appropriate conditions.

Take action 15 April

Protest against the incinerator. Join us on
April 15 lunch time 1.30 City Hall lawn outside city hall.
more on this here - join us as the council's planning committee rules on proposals for a large waste incinerator in the city.

There has been fierce opposition to the planning application from Viridor waste management for a 350,000 tonne per year waste incinerator to be situated in Trident Park, near Splott. Cardiff Friends of the Earth has handed in objections from over 300 people and many others have also expressed their opposition.

The group has objected to the proposal on the grounds that the incinerator would burn waste which should be recycled or composted. They argue that incineration is not an efficient way of generating energy and that pollution from the site could be harmful to the health of local residents and could pollute important wildlife sites.

The objection says that household waste should be dealt with as near to where it was produced as possible, whereas an incinerator would take waste from across south east Wales, possibly much further.

Phil Ward, Waste Campaigner for Cardiff Friends of the Earth will be speaking on behalf of the group at the council meeting. He commented:

“The people of Cardiff do not want a massive incinerator at the heart of the city burning waste from across south Wales. We should all be taking radical steps to reduce the amount of waste we produce. Then we need to be recycling and composting all we can.

“Incineration is not a 'green' technology and there is no sense in driving huge amounts of waste around the country increasing congestion and pollution. Other, less damaging and more sustainable, technologies are available that could be implemented in each local area "

Stop the Cardiff Incinerator

Stop the Cardiff Incinerator

Next Wednesday, 11 March, Cardiff councillors will decide whether a massive incinerator can be built between Splott and Cardiff Bay.

If they say yes, it will burn waste from across south Wales. This would mean more pollution, more lorries in Cardiff and more waste of valuable resources.

Show your opposition

We were at the Nye Bevan statue on Queen Street on Friday 6 March to demonstrate and tell people and the press about the plans.

Join the peaceful demonstration before the planning committee meeting. Meet at 1.30 pm on Wednesday 11 March at the front entrance of City Hall i Cathays Park.

Make sure your councillors know how you feel.

For more information go to www.foecardiff.co.uk

Incinerator query delay blamed on ‘admin error’

Mar 7 2009 by David James, South Wales Echo

CARDIFF council has been criticised for failing to disclose the extent of its dealings with a controversial incinerator firm.

Coun Martin Holland has called for Viridor’s application to build a massive waste-burning plant in Cardiff to be put on hold until the city council reveals the full details of its dealings with the company behind the application.

Viridor’s plan to build a 350,000-tonne-a-year incinerator in Splott is set to be decided by the city’s planning committee on Wednesday next week.

Protesters took to the streets of the city centre yesterday dressed in gas masks and bearing placards to raise awareness of the application, which is opposed by environmental groups including Friends of the Earth Cymru.

Coun Holland, who represents Splott, has been waiting four months for a response to his demand under the Freedom of Information Act.

He said: “I have not had a single response to any of the requests. A basic democratic right has just simply been ignored. I have asked the council’s chief executive to defer the planning application.

“The lack of a response has meant we could not make a fully meaningful and informed contribution to the planning process.”

A spokesman for the city council said last night that the lack of response had been an administrative error and that officers would try to rectify it as soon as possible.

Cardiff council has always denied having any links to Viridor, whose application is supported by Cardiff City directors Paul Guy and Mike Hall.

At a recent city council meeting, chief executive Byron Davies took the unusual step of responding to a petition presented by Coun Holland against the plan and reiterated the city’s position that Viridor’s application had nothing to do with the local authority.

Yet opponents believe the council has already decided that incineration is its preferred technology for dealing with the city’s waste in future and want all details of the council’s dealings with the firm made public.

Coun Holland highlighted the fact that the papers prepared for the city council’s planning committee by officers only referred to the word “incineration” in responses from outside bodies.

He said: “In the first 20 pages the incinerator is not mentioned.

“These are not papers presented by Viridor but by council officials. All that is mentioned is energy from waste.

“The council may say they have nothing to do with Viridor plans, but this is a massive project and there’s no way it could have come this far without some kind of tacit support.”

One of the key objections of the community is that the plant would see hundreds of lorries trundling through Cardiff delivering 1,000 tonnes of waste to the facility every day.

A Cardiff Council spokesman said: “We apologise for the delay in the response to this Freedom of Information request.

“It seems to be a genuine possibility that this request has been lost.

“We will be working to rectify this situation as soon as possible.”