Incinerator campaign reaches Parliament16 November 2010
London local group members took their campaign opposing an incinerator to Parliament. They outlined the dangers of incinerators and emphasised a 'zero waste' alternative.
Towards 'zero waste'
Members of local groups in Barnet & Enfield and Brent attended the Zero Waste event organised by UKWIN.
They're part of the Brent Cross Coalition - just one of the anti-incineration groups which attended the seminar.
Local MP missing
Several MPs also attended the seminar which focussed on the problems with, and alternatives to, incineration. But Mike Freer - MP for Finchley and Golders Green where the Brent Cross incinerator is planned - wasn't there.
Campaigners have called on Mr Freer to provide independent evidence after he defended plans to build the incinerator. They've repeatedly challenged their MP's claims that incinerators are safe.
Key issues
The seminar looked at the key issues around incineration which include:
- environmental and health risks
- negative effects on recycling
Incineration and gasification detract from recycling, since they don't work without burning good recyclable materials.
Paul Connett, Professor of Environmental Chemistry
Statistics show that health risks are even higher if incinerators are built in densely populated areas - such as the Brent Cross site.
Alternative solutions
Incineration involves burning materials which are recyclable. The event also focussed on alternatives to incineration and showed we need to look more at recycling and reducing waste.
As the latest statistics show, we're producing less waste every year, and recycling more of it. That's the direction we need to be heading - there's no need or place for incineration in a genuinely zero waste future.
Julian Kirby, Waste Campaigner, Friends of the Earth
Call for discussion
Campaigners are asking local MP Mike Freer to talk to them about these issues. They're calling for rational solutions based on the interests of local residents.
Get involved
Find your nearest Friends of the Earth group and get involved in your local community. You can also join our waste action email list .
© Brent Cross Coalition
