Last chance to register opposition to massive rubbish incinerator in Wales

23 March 2011

Thursday (24 March) is the last day anyone can register to express concerns about the massive rubbish incinerator an America company is proposing to build above a south Wales town.

The huge waste plant, proposed by Covanta for Merthyr, would demand 750,000 tonnes of rubbish a year - more than is produced by all the homes in Wales - and would hit recycling and waste reduction progress right across the country.

On Tuesday (22 March), three busloads of Merthyr and Rhymney residents, community group representatives and environment campaigners took over six thousand forms to the Bristol headquarters of the UK Infrastructure Planning Committee (IPC).

Alyson Austin, of Merthyr Friends of the Earth, said:

"People in Merthyr have been queuing up at our street stalls to oppose this disastrous proposal. Residents are rightly concerned about the health issues, and the hundreds of lorries that will be on the roads every day bringing rubbish from all over the country.

"Covanta says this massive incinerator, which will be bigger than the Millennium Stadium, will bring jobs to the area. But there'll only be about 65 long term jobs at the plant, and only a fraction of these going to local people. Recycling and re-use provides at least 10 times as many jobs, and would be a true green solution.

"Everyone in Wales is going to be affected if this incinerator goes ahead. Thursday is the last day to get online and register with the IPC your concern."

Haf Elgar, campaigner for Friends of the Earth Cymru, said:

"This huge waste plant will need to burn thousands of tonnes of valuable resources every year to make it cost-effective. If we're going to hit our recycling targets, Wales will have to become the dumping ground for England and beyond.

"Incineration is not green - it produces toxic ash, air pollution and climate-changing carbon dioxide. This incinerator would be a waste management disaster for Wales."

For further information, please contact Friends of the Earth Cymru on 029 2022 9577