Incinerator Dangers

Norfolking Incinerator

2006-05-13T05:10:00.000-07:00

Norwich Evening News 24: Says No to Norfolk Incinerator
Meanwhile the council deny their freedom of information request. Is this another case of questionable behaviour by a council. Another council that doesn't give a damn about its community? Serious questions should be asked about the UK authorities' attitudes to its communities.

It seems local councils and UK government don't care. Make a Shout, and Vote 'em out!

UK Incinerator Campaigns

2006-03-11T11:44:00.001-08:00

There are lots of people starting to campaign vigorously against the plan to role out waste incinerators across the country.

There are some interesting questions that need to be asked about this process.

The officially quoted reports say incineration is safe. Yet some other reports highlight factors that have been overlooked in these official reports. For example, one report says dioxin emissions can be many times higher than the results of the official spot monitoring process. So emissions can be much higher than the regulator believes. Also because emissions are only monitored a few hours per year [only!] then excessively high dioxin emissions can go completely undetected. Similarly for toxic heavy metal emissions! How can the authorities guarantee safety when they haven't a clue what the emission levels are 99% of the time!

If you aren't measuring emissions then you don't know what they are! You can't guarantee safety.

Then there is the well know fact that incinerators are always exceeding emission limits (for other pollutants that are measured continuously, or occasionally - spot).

There's the other big question for our democracy. Why does the Government not represent the people? Why does it not consult and not listen!?

Similarly why do some local authorities not consult the people, and not listen!?

Hands up who thinks the UK is a democracy?

UK Incinerator Campaigns

2006-03-11T11:44:00.000-08:00

There are lots of people starting to campaign vigorously against the plan to role out waste incinerators across the country.

There are some interesting questions that need to be asked about this process.

The officially quoted reports say incineration is safe. Yet some other reports highlight factors that have been overlooked in these official reports. For example, one report says dioxin emissions can be many times higher than the results of the official spot monitoring process. So emissions can be much higher than the regulator believes. Also beceause emissions are only monitored a few hours per year [only!] then excessively high dioxin emissions can go completely undetected. Similarly for toxic heavy metal emissions! How can the authorities guarantee safety when they haven't a clue what the emission levels are 99% of the time!

If you aren't measuring emissions then you don't know what they are! You can't guarantee safety.

Then there is the well know fact that incinerators are always exceeding emission limits (for other pollutants that are measured continuously, or occasionally - spot).

There's the other big question for our democracy. Why does the Government not represent the people? Why does it not consult and not listen!?

Similarly why do some local authorities not consult the people, and not listen!?

Hands up who thinks the UK is a democracy?

Parliamentary Report

2005-08-19T01:49:00.000-07:00

Report

RCEP: Incinerator

2005-08-19T00:51:00.000-07:00

Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution.

See the section of this page on an incinerator application.

Downwinders At Risk-100 Facts About the Incineration of Hazardous Waste

2005-08-16T04:26:00.000-07:00

Downwinders At Risk-100 Facts About the Incineration of Hazardous Waste in Cement Kilns

Questions and Answers: Dioxins

2005-08-11T09:52:00.000-07:00

FDA/CFSAN - Questions and Answers about Dioxins

Incinerator - Dangers

2005-08-11T09:39:00.000-07:00

HEAL Utah: Davis County Incinerator - Dangers

Although older incinerators were much worse than today's, this article still provides some useful info.

Incinerator bad: Notts are you listening?

2005-08-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

"... the existence of a major EfW incinerator for MSW in Nottingham appears to have had a negative effect on recycling rates in the city. In 1998/99, 49% of MSW was managed by means of incineration. In the same year Nottingham’s municipal household recycling rate was only 6%. The rate dropped to 4% in 1999/2000 and 2000/01, and in 2001/02 it was still one of the lowest in the country at 5%. Although the pressure of government targets is bound to result in recycling rates increasing here too, the planned extension to the Eastcroft incinerator may limit this increase."

source: report

County Council Contradictions

2005-08-10T06:59:00.000-07:00

In the post below (County Council admits) you'll see some of the Council's own policies on environmental protection. Now count how many of their own policies the Council contradicts by proposing a 180,000 tonne waste incinerator in Mansfield.

Which of the following issues apply?

Too close to residents - toxic dust, noise, smell, vermin, HGVs, ...
Visual intrusion (e.g. 300ft chimney)
Pollution of underground water source
Degradation of ancient Sherwood Forest (acid rain?)

In addition to the above is the largely ignored air pollution issue, and its significant impact on human health!

Notts County Council: Your Waste Plan

2005-08-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

Notts Environmental Plan:
"Encouraging greater public involvement and making information available is
an important factor in implementing the Plan. The Waste Local Plan has a
key role to play, because it is a public document and sets out the future of
waste management for Nottinghamshire. As part of the Plan's consultation
stages, the public has the right to comment and make representations on proposals in the Plan, which as a result may be modified."

You bet we do, we pay your salaries. You're there to serve the people.

County Council admits...

2005-08-10T05:42:00.000-07:00

"One of the most serious pollution threats to water resources is the disposal of
non-inert waste in areas where groundwater is vulnerable and, in particular,
catchments of boreholes used for potable supply. In Nottinghamshire, the
main aquifers are classified by the Environment Agency as highly vulnerable
and are the Sherwood Sandstone and the Magnesian Limestone, which
together supply up to 80% of the County's drinking water."

"... However it is impossible, even with the best available technology,
to make a disposal site completely leak proof and there will be certain areas
where the risk to the aquifer is so great as to make waste disposal
unacceptable."

"POLICY W3.5
PLANNING PERMISSION WILL NOT BE GRANTED FOR A WASTE
MANAGEMENT FACILITY WHERE THERE IS AN UNACCEPTABLE RISK
OF POLLUTION TO GROUNDWATER OR SURFACE WATER OR WHERE
IT AFFECTS THE INTEGRITY OR FUNCTION OF FLOODPLAINS,
UNLESS THE HARM CAN BE MITIGATED BY ENGINEERING MEASURES
AND/OR OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS."

"... where potential dust nuisances are
identified, these should be kept away from sensitive areas, such as residential
properties and nature conservation sites where dust is likely to cause harm... "

"POLICY W3.10
WHEN PLANNING PERMISSION IS GRANTED FOR A WASTE
MANAGEMENT FACILITY, CONDITIONS WILL BE IMPOSED TO
SUPPRESS DUST GENERATION. SUCH CONDITIONS MAY INCLUDE:
(a) THE USE OF WATER BOWSERS ON HAUL ROADS;
(b) SCREEN BANKS;
(c) ENCLOSING DUST GENERATING FIXED PLANT AND MACHINERY;
(d) SITING DUST GENERATING OPERATIONS AWAY FROM SENSITIVE
AREAS;
(e) TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF OPERATIONS WHEN NECESSARY;
(f) THE USE OF TREE SCREENS WHERE RELEVANT."

"Household waste can attract vermin and so create a public health risk."

"... road traffic can have a significant environmental
impact on the countryside and residential amenity, and can cause structural
damage to the highway network. Conservation areas are also unlikely to be
suited to heavy traffic. The main problems caused by heavy lorry traffic are:
noise, vibration, mud, dust, spillage of waste materials, fumes, damage to
buildings, roads and highway trees, visual intrusion and a reduction in road
safety. These problems are, potentially, most severe where the public
highway adjoins the site access or lorry routes pass through residential areas."

"Lorry routeing can also be a major consideration in assessing the
acceptability of waste management proposals."

"POLICY W3.14
PLANNING PERMISSION WILL NOT BE GRANTED FOR A WASTE
MANAGEMENT FACILITY WHERE THE VEHICLE MOVEMENTS LIKELY
TO BE GENERATED CANNOT BE SATISFACTORILY ACCOMMODATED
BY THE HIGHWAY NETWORK OR WOULD CAUSE UNACCEPTABLE
DISTURBANCE TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES."

"Ancient woodlands represent an irreplaceable resource."

"POLICY W3.19
PLANNING PERMISSION FOR A WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY
WHICH WOULD DESTROY OR DEGRADE ANCIENT WOODLANDS WILL
NOT BE GRANTED. OTHER WOODLANDS OF AMENITY, WILDLIFE AND
RECREATIONAL VALUE WILL BE SAFEGUARDED UNLESS THEIR
VALUE IS OUTWEIGHED BY THE NEED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT.
WHERE THE DEVELOPMENT WOULD INVOLVE THE LOSS OF SUCH
WOODLAND, THE LAND SHOULD BE RECLAIMED WITH AN
EQUIVALENT AREA OF WOODLAND."

source: Environmental Protection report

Given that the proposed Mansfield incinerator produces thousands of tonnes of toxic chemicals every year this question should be asked: will our water be safe? Not only is there the site of the incinerator to consider, there is also the hazardous landfill site for the toxic fly ash - which is to be located where exactly?

Also, why is a toxic fly ash production plant being located right next to residents? The above policy states "siting dust generating operations away from sensitive areas". Perhaps the county council think that the residents of Mansfield don't count!?

Open Directory - Society: Issues: Environment: Pollution

2005-08-10T05:31:00.000-07:00

Open Directory - Society: Issues: Environment: Pollution

Crazy County Council

2005-08-10T04:57:00.000-07:00

Notts Council report demonstrates crazy attitude:

"Nottinghamshire is fortunate in having its own municipal incinerator at
Eastcroft, Nottingham,..."

Yes they really do mean "fortunate"!

Why might this be?
Well a diagram in the report shows the happy world of incinerators where they can do no harm. There is no chimney or emissions on their incinerator - air pollution simply does not exist in their world.

Waste Local Plan - Nottinghamshire County Council

2005-08-10T04:50:00.000-07:00

Waste Local Plan - Nottinghamshire County Council: "The current plan is therefore based on four key objectives:

* Protecting the environment.
* The efficient use of resources.
* Controlling pollution.
* Encouraging public awareness and involvement."

Let's evaluate the above within the context of the proposed incinerator at Mansfield:

"Protecting the environment"
- Incinerator exposes environment to about 100,000 tonnes of new emissions every year, producing global warming, acid rain, photochemical smog, carcinogens, heavy metals, particulates and dust. This destroys vegetation, pollutes the land and contaminates water. Significant impacts on human health too!

"Controlling pollution"
- See above.

"Encouraging public awareness and involvement"
- There has been very little of this from Notts County Council. Indeed even Mansfield District Council expect the county council to impose their [arrogant] policy on Mansfield. We shall see...

Incineration is not Sustainable

2005-08-10T04:31:00.000-07:00

Incineration is not Sustainable
Incineration is not Sustainable

Incineration creates highly toxic pollutants, then spreads them over the population and its food chain. This is NOT a sustainable practice. These toxins accumulate in the environment, the food chain and in humans. The probability of exposure to carcinogens increases, along with your chances of cancer. (For the unborn there's increased chances of birth defects too.)

Incineration is not Sustainable
Incineration is not Sustainable

Comments and complaints form - Nottinghamshire County Council

2005-08-10T04:00:00.000-07:00

Comments and complaints form - Nottinghamshire County Council

If you are opposed to Notts County Council's plan to impose an incinerator on Mansfield then here's an online complaint form. Complain to the county council via this form, and make sure you also complain by letter, phone, fax...

Make sure your feelings are heard.

Notts Contact Details here

Campaign to...

2005-08-10T03:51:00.000-07:00

Letters are being written by campaigners, and sent to Malvin Trigg, NCC Director of Environment, County Hall, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7QP

Incinerators are damn stupid and dangerous

2005-08-09T03:26:00.000-07:00

Incinerator process:-

Input: harmless waste and some toxic (but confined) waste

Outputs:

turn the harmless waste into new toxic chemicals and spread over the population and the land
turn harmless waste into new toxic chemicals and bury in hazardous landfill
take the confined toxic waste and spread over the population and the land

Result: newly created toxic waste ends up in plants, animals and humans, along with the input toxins that were originally confined.

Although the above process is so obviously bad that it's laughable, the real result is much sadness.

Transport of toxic fly ash

2005-08-09T03:20:00.000-07:00

Mansfield to where?

The transport of thousands of tonnes of toxic fly ash by lorry also raises concerns - what route will those lorries take? Of course, the immediate vicinity are likely to suffer most from that (dust created whilst loading vehicles, etc.). Then there's the question of where will the hazardous landfill site be for burying this toxic waste!? It's ironic really: their policy is to reduce landfill but although the volume of landfill is reduced they will create perhaps 2000 - 9000 tonnes of extremely toxic fly ash landfill every year! Plus the toxic (but less so) bottom ash landfill. So the landfill area will probably be more toxic than traditionally.

Mansfield against incinerator meetings

2005-08-09T02:14:00.000-07:00

TWO PUBLIC MEETINGS

Have been organised to:

DISCUSS MANSFIELD’S INCINERATOR PLANS

Notts County Council and Onyx have announced their proposals for a 26-year PFI contract that include the prospect of a waste incinerator to be built in
the Greater Mansfield/Ashfield area.

The only site mentioned by name is:
Crown Farm, Forest Town

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE PLANS, YOU CAN ATTEND BOTH MEETINGS:

Mansfield MP Alan Meale has called a meeting for Monday 15th August 2005, from 6 pm at the
Forest Town Social Club (Welfare)

And

MAIN (Mansfield Against Incineration), in conjunction with West Notts Friends of the Earth will meet on

Monday 22nd August, from 7:30 pm at
St Albans Church, Forest Town
Corner of Clipstone Road and Old Mill Lane

Both meetings are accessible by bus from Mansfield and Clipstone
Car parking available at Kingsway Hall & Forest Town Welfare

For further details contact foe.westnotts@gmail.com

A Case Study

2005-08-08T15:13:00.000-07:00

MispelstraatMWIHealthImpact

Britain steps out of line on incinerators

2005-08-08T14:45:00.000-07:00

Britain steps out of line on incinerators

Head of EU waste directorate points out that Britain is creating more incinerators, while the rest of Europe are against any more incinerators: they are regarded like nuclear reactors.

No Incinerators for Europe

2005-08-08T07:21:00.000-07:00

No Incinerators for Europe

Onyx: worst case farce

2005-08-08T07:18:00.000-07:00

Onyx hoodwink visitors asking about the risks

Incinerator operators have to do their own Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to pursuade the Environment Agency to give them a licence to operate [and pollute within guidelines].

The Onyx's EIA assumed a "worst case" scenario for the impact on nearby residents - using maximum permitted levels.

Can you spot the flaw in this farcical process!?

It assumes incinerators never exceed permitted levels.
In fact incinerators often run into problems and exceed permitted levels - all the Environment Agency does is send them a "warning", and then another, and then another, and...

The impact assessment is a farce.

But it gets worse than that. The company itself are responsible for monitoring pollutants and reporting their incidents to the Environment Agency!

There are no independent, continuous, pollution monitoring authorities to check what the incinerator emissions are. No one really knows what's happening!