Making a stand against incineration11 November 2010
Merthyr Tydfil Friends of the Earth and other local groups in Wales are challenging a proposal for a massive waste incinerator.
The group helped organise a public meeting on the health impacts and alternatives to incineration, with guest speaker Dr Paul Connett, a world-renowned toxicology professor and incineration consultant (pictured).
60 local people went along to the meeting, with 30 signing up for the campaign.
We have a massive proposal in the pipeline.We don't even think that there's sufficient waste to feed this size incinerator.
Alyson Austin, Coordinator of Merthyr Tydfil Friends of the Earth
The figures
- The proposed incinerator requires 750,000 tonnes of waste per year
- The local council produces only 23,110 tonnes of suitable waste each year
- Welsh recycling was below 40% in 2009-2010
In 10 years we should be looking at 95% recycling and reusing
Alyson Austin
More details about the proposal and the campaign
More about Merthyr Tydfil Friends of the Earth
Alyson Austin has been a local activist for 7 years. She opposed a planning application for an open cast mine with Residents Against Ffos-y-Fran (RAFF). Unfortunately, the mine was approved, and it's being proposed to build the incinerator next to it.
In 2009, she started the local group with her husband to strengthen the community's response to incineration.
We thought it would be most feasible and credible if we had Friends of the Earth do it rather than myself as a lone activist
Alyson Austin
Alyson was a finalist in the "Environment Campaigner of the year" category of the 2010 Sheila McKechnie Foundation Awards.
Get involved
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