Campaign to Stop Vogen Energy's Biofuel Power Station

Campaign to stop Vogen Energy biofuel Power station - more info on

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Please join as in the Silent Vigil against the power station.Wednesday 9th September,at 12h, outside the Civic Centre, Newport then come to the planning meeting inside at 13h.Please wear black.

NEWPORT to be mega rubbish dump and incinerator capital of wales!

Please don't forget project green/Gwyrdd! This has identified a Newport site for incinerator!

Evaluation of shortlisted sites here

Fears aired over Newport waste plant (From South Wales Argus)

1 Jul 2009 ... Tara King, Prosiect Gwyrdd project manager,

Newport has joined forces with Monmouthshire, Caerphilly, Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan to find somewhere to take their rubbish.

Last month, Newport’s cabinet gave the go ahead to allow an Assembly-owned site on Tatton Road to be considered for the project. The site, in the industrial area of Queensway Meadows, is likely to be the only publicly owned site earmarked for the plant.

24/08
Jane Davidson (Minister for Environment,Sustainability and Housing) said today that she is not going to call in the descision about the power station to the Welsh Assembly Government.She feels that the" issues associated with the application are not of more than local importance". Tell that to the people+animals who are going to losetheir land,so that Vogen can profit from it!

WAG Greenwash

Desperately needed to draw attention to the really bad anti environment policies being rolled out by WAG despite the grand greenwash...

The WAG heritage minister is happy for Cardiff libdems/Plaid Cymru to build a new bridge £1.4million and a ROAD into listed city centre for articulated lorries!!!

The WAG are promoting Project 'GREEN'!!! which is promoting incineration! Plus ignoring other better options.

ask the WAG why incinerator residues not counted in the recycling/composting indicator?

Couldn't make it up! What are they thinking of?

UKWin response to Wales waste Strategy is very concerned about the apparent promotion of incineration.. in project 'green' P Gwyrdd


WAG Approval of the business case and subsidy for Prosiect Gwyrdd, 27 Jan. 2009 for next generation energy-from-waste plant in south Wales

The Minister depicted Prosiect Gwyrdd as "producing much needed energy" that would "use waste in the best possible way", despite the consortium claiming their Business case for procuring a ‘solution’ for residual waste is technology-neutral (www.prosiectgwyrdd.gov.uk)

Keeping incineration on the table seriously risks undermining targets for recycling and waste reduction.


Gordon James, director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said:

While the Assembly Government’s target of achieving 70% recycling by 2025 is a step in the right direction, we have to be more ambitious. Parts of Europe, such as Flanders and Germany, are already achieving this rate, so we believe we should be aiming for 70% recycling by 2015 and 80% by 2020.

We also want to see a much greater emphasis on waste reduction. Wales could become a zero waste nation, in which residual waste has been eliminated by 2030 rather than the proposed target of 2050. This is far too long to wait given the current environmental problems we face. Bold and urgent action is necessary now.

The Assembly Government’s own consultants have stated that it is fundamental that recycling becomes an option for waste management only after reduction and reuse. Without significant waste reduction, even 70% recycling by 2025 would fail to meet the Assembly Government’s own target to reduce Wales’ ‘ecological footprint’ to a fair 1.88 global hectares per person.

NOTE UK WIN's response to the Welsh Waste Strategy emphasises that
the incineration brigadiers are wrongly ignoring the value of biogas.

As does The Ecologist - 7 Aug 09 (full article requires sub.)

Councils accused of ignoring biogas - by David Strahan

Throughout the UK Councils are making a panicked rush into PFI incinerator contracts which will run 25 years, prove problematic, very expensive to sustain and more costly to terminate.

In fact, current British targets, subsidies, and procurement rules are driving councils and their private sector waste contractors towards a range of far less energy efficient options such as incineration, and some that recover no energy at all, such as industrial composting. The government, which is a recent convert to biogas, plans to introduce new incentives in 2011, but by then it may be too late. To avoid swingeing fines under the EU directive, councils are rushing to seal PFI deals with waste disposal contractors that could effectively lock in their choices for a quarter of a century. According to Johnny Johnston, sustainable gas manager for National Grid, 'There is a concern that valuable waste streams for generating biogas may be lost'.

Ex Biffa Waste Director, Peter Jones, now waste advisor to Boris Johnson, says -

As glacial as the development of British waste policy may be, the direction of travel is clear, and organic waste is going to become a valuable commodity that local authorities will be able to sell, not pay to be taken away. Any council signing an incinerator contract today that ties it into rising fees for 25 years would be 'crazy'.

The problem is, that may be exactly what many are about to do.
David Strahan is a journalist specialising in energy issues,
and author of 'The Last Oil Shock'

WAG waste plan = incineration plan

Max writes to the Westyern Mail re 27 July, Friends of Earth rubbishes waste incineration plan...

What cheek of the WAG spokesman to claim “the most ambitious recycling plan of all the UK administrations” ! (W

Their Waste Plan started off aiming for 70% recycling levels which Flanders and parts of Germany are already reaching, but set 2025 as the date, the same as Scotland. But then WAG decided to make Wales unique by declaring use of incinerator ash as aggregate could be called recycling.

So the comparison is – Scotland aims for 70% real cycling, 25% cap on incineration; Wales aims for 63% real recycling, 37% cap on incineration.

Far from being ambitious on recycling, WAG has deferred the target past the lifetime of most politicians and sets out to be most ambitious on incineration. You rightly headline it "waste incineration plan".

Evidently, their promotion of Covanta’s plans for Merthyr, for the biggest incinerator in Europe, was not a flash in the pan. Rather it shows the dominance in WAG of those who want to build a generation of incinerators in Wales.

They need a lot of domestic waste as feedstock. Hence they refused the aim for high levels of recycling, set at 80% or more by their consultants (Eunomia). They put off the target date till 2025, instead of the initial and unambitious 2020. And then downgraded the 70% to an effective 63%.

These figures are not in the main consultation documents, but hidden in the small print of the “Future Directions…” auxiliary paper. None of the Consultation questions ask the public if we want more waste treatment (biostabilisation and sorting) and higher recycling targets.

Assembly politicians should be ashamed of what WAG is foisting on Wales in the guise of ‘ambitious recycling’.

Note Worrying promotion of incineration

WAG Approval of the business case and subsidy for Prosiect Gwyrdd, 27 Jan. 2009:

New funding boost for next generation energy-from-waste plant in south Wales

The Minister depicted Prosiect Gwyrdd as "producing much needed energy" that would "use waste in the best possible way", despite the consortium claiming their Business case for procuring a ‘solution’ for residual waste is technology-neutral (www.prosiectgwyrdd.gov.uk)

Scam green duff recycling targets

Friends of Earth rubbishes waste incineration plan

Jul 27 2009 by David Williamson, Western Mail

WALES is lagging behind the efforts of other countries in the race to embrace recycling and eliminate waste, Friends of the Earth Cymru claimed today.

It criticised the Assembly Government’s waste strategy for not going far enough to meet the challenges of climate change and diminishing resources.

The charity described the draft strategy as a “step in the right direction” but called for more ambitious recycling targets and a far greater emphasis on reducing waste.

A WAG spokesman, however, said they believed theirs is the most ambitious recycling plan of all the UK administrations.

Friends of the Earth Cymru also wants Environment Minister Jane Davidson to abandon incineration as an option for dealing with waste.

The group claimed that keeping incineration on the table “seriously risks undermining targets for recycling and waste reduction”.

Gordon James, director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said: “While the Assembly Government’s target of achieving 70% recycling by 2025 is a step in the right direction, we have to be more ambitious.

“Parts of Europe, such as Flanders and Germany, are already achieving this rate, so we believe we should be aiming for

70% recycling by 2015 and 80% by 2020.

“We also want to see a much greater emphasis on waste reduction. Wales could become a zero waste nation, in which residual waste has been eliminated by 2030 rather than the proposed target of 2050.

“This is far too long to wait given the current environmental problems we face. Bold and urgent action is necessary now.”

His call was echoed by Jake Griffiths, leader of the Wales Green Party, who urged the Assembly Government to go further and support not just recycling but reusable packaging.

He said a return to the widespread use of bottles would mean more people would drink locally produced milk.

Milk contained in plastic cartons, he argued, was more likely to have been transported over a long distance, and the plastic might be sent as far away as China to be recycled.

He did not believe that more use of incineration would help encourage recycling and called for bolder targets.

“We don’t think they’ve been ambitious enough,” he said. “Other countries are way ahead of us.”

Friends of the Earth’s Mr James also supports greater reuse of packaging.

He said: “The Assembly Government’s own consultants have stated that it is fundamental that recycling becomes an option for waste management only after reduction and reuse. Without significant waste reduction, even 70% recycling by 2025 would fail to meet the Assembly Government’s own target to reduce Wales’ ‘ecological footprint’ to a fair 1.88 global hectares per person.”

Mr James went on to highlight Friends of the Earth Cymru’s concerns about the inclusion of incineration. Proposals to build incinerators in Cardiff, Barry and Merthyr Tydfil have all ignited controversy.

He said: “Incineration should not be part of any waste strategy. It is not a green technology as it produces toxic ash, emits excessive amounts of carbon dioxide, and its use would weaken incentives to reduce waste and boost recycling.

“The case for incineration is based on the unrealistic assumption that all residual waste could be incinerated and that all the ash is reusable.”

“In practice, less than 50% of the ash could be used and a significant amount of this would be hazardous waste.

“There are no suitable landfill sites for these residues in Wales, so they would need to be exported elsewhere.”

Friends of the Earth argues that Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) systems should be used to process residual waste.

Mr James said: “While it is encouraging that the Assembly Government is addressing how we need to deal with our waste, there is still a lot of work to do if we are going to transform Wales into a truly zero waste society.”

A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman said: “We welcome all contributions to our consultation which comes to an end next week. We believe this is the most ambitious recycling plan among all the administrations of the UK.

“We want to see Wales become a zero waste nation by 2050 so that products and services are designed so that they reduce or reuse waste as far as possible.”

Prosiect Gwyrdd 'GREEN'wash is out of date on motivation, waste data and policy,

Project Green should go green asp!! Project Green = Project incinerator

Fib dems /Plaid Prosiect Gwyrdd 'GREEN'wash is out of date on motivation, waste data and policy, it would fail tests for soundness, including (non)consistency with Cardiff's waste policy.

The biggest inconsistency is the claim to meet the residual waste level of 150kg /person/year.

..arguments about uncertainties, figures going up and down each year, are skewered by this number. Current population (830 000) times 150kg gives 125 000 t/yr (perhaps 140 000t/yr with some population growth) far below the 220 000 t/yr of P Gwyrdd.

No big Burner required!!

- the single big facility (incinerator) is likely to be old technology, cutting out the newer methods for extracting materials and value from residual waste.

- their out-of-date projections assumed continual growth in residual waste - it’s now reducing with a WAG target 40% lower (PG needs the high level to make incineration a 'viable proposition')

- they ignore the landfill needed for the ‘reference’ incinerator, for non-combustible materials and for thousands of tonnes of incinerator ash

- they assume all incinerator bottom ash to be re-used in building, yet much of it will be hazardous waste (the EU’s waste incineration regulations are beginning to bite)

- they excluded the cheapest, most flexible and environmentally preferred Mechanical+Biological treatments (MBT) stabilising biowastes for soils (WAG was planning to ban this but have now changed policy, over to using quality protocols as in England)

- they have pushed through the policy without public consultation, afraid of the anti-incineration backlash, so have no public consent to this hugely costly gamble.

It was not just Prosiect Gwyrdd, but also WAG that went off course, chasing incinerators. Now WAG’s defeat over banning MBT-output to soil or landfill and their dismissal of incinerator ash and dioxin issues leaves PG on an unsound basis.

PG really wantes to be technology-neutral and flexible, it should go for

* preference for flexible projects, less than 10 years (as Sterecycle’s autoclave)

* reduce the guideline tonnage from 220 000t to a realistic level (under 140 000t/yr)

* any incinerator bid to meet the efficiency standard and deal with its hazardous ashes

* high importance to carbon footprint, assessed on the international (IPCC) methods

The consultants’ report for Friends of the Earth “A changing climate for Energy from Waste?” 2006 http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/changing_climate.pdf was important in showing the way to a non-incinerating strategy.

The study for Ireland (with a similar mix of industrial and rural areas to Wales)

Greenstar 2008,

“Meeting Ireland’s Waste Targets: The Role of MBT”,

shows that MBT is environmentally much preferable in switching from landfill into high recycling and waste treatment. WAG says it wants to do this but has been diverted into incinerators.

Cardiff Planning Committee say NO to Viridor incinerator

The Cardiff Planning Committee rejected the Viridor application for an
incinerator today by seven votes to two with one abstention.

This is great news and is a tribute to all the hard work we have
put in over the past months in leafleting and lobbying.

The Splott Councillors, Gavin Cox and Martin Holland are over
the moon.

However, the reason given for the committee rejecting the application
could have been stronger and Viridor are likely to lodge an appeal to the
Assembly. so we will need to keep working on this to ensure that the appeal
is rejected.

Lib Dems back Incinerator - project greenwash

Cardiff libdem/plaid council propose to endorse P Gwyrdd at the 11 June Exec meeting.
MUNICIPAL RESIDUAL WASTE TREATMENT (PROSIECT
GWYRDD) - PROCUREMENT
Full report on the councils website : It happily manages to NOT to use the word incinerator but instead refers to the incinerator as 'energy from waste'.
http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/objview.asp?object_id=14194
Project Incinerator gives no alternative - ie. Lib Rodney Berman
has already agreed it. The incomprehensible report pushes the

1. incinerator ash issue aside, (para 19)
2. the same with wasting the heat energy.

121. Scope of Project: It should be noted that the scope of the procurement is limited to procuring a ....
Residual Waste Treatment Solution only...i.e. INCINERATOR

What is Project Green ....
1.1.1 page 39 Prosiect Gwyrdd (Project Green) comprises a partnership of five South Wales unitary authorities (Cardiff, Newport, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire and Vale of Glamorgan).
The partnership is working together to identify a suitable location for a major new residual waste treatment facility to provide an alternative recovery option to the
disposal of residual municipal waste in landfill. Once the site has been selected it is
intended that a procurement process will take place to identify a preferred bidder to
develop the facility.

Questions to raise

1. Is this risky and costly decision legal?..is it lawful to ignore TAN21 and development plan/waste plan policy
2. Why is MBT excluded in the project spec against Cardiff policy (doesn't meet The Best Practicable Environmental Option BPEO)
3. We want the decision deferred for a special inquiry/scrutiny with public and FoE-technical presence.

Not only is this project report total GREENWASH it is also total gobblygook..
e.g. The Project is aware that it will continue to ‘path-find’ throughout the procurement competitive dialogue procedure with regards to processes in Wales, as such the
Council will seek to ensure that strong liaison is maintained throughout
with the WAG officials to drive forward succinct decision making, thereby
keeping to timetable...and so on.....why not plain english....

Great news for Newport....perhaps they haven't noticed councils changing hands in Bristol over the incinerator.!!! R Berman take NOTE!!!

page 28 3(ii) Recommended site .... is known as Tatton Road, Newport. This recommendation being subject to: a Newport City Council agreeing to the same; and b Participating authorities agreeing to the terms and conditions pursuant to which such site is to be acquired or an option secured, which terms will address, how the same is to be financed by the five authorities and what is to happen at the end of the project life.
INCINERATOR to promote the concept of ECO Village!!!
....between the EfW plant and the Glan Llyn
development to promote the concept of an eco village’. Glan Llyn and / or Corus could
potentially receive all the output from the plant thus precluding the need to export
into the grid.

At their meeting Wednesday, 3rd June Monmouthshire CC's cabinet voted to
stay involved in Project Gwyrdd and proceed to the procurement stage.