Archived press release

Threat of More Incinerators

27 October 2003

The threat of a dramatic rise in the number of waste incinerators across the country, many burning potentially recyclable materials, moves a step closer today when MP's hear the third reading of a Bill aimed at reducing the amount of biodegradable material going into landfill sites. [1]

The environmental lobby group, Friends of the Earth, is warning the Government that, if passed, the Waste and Emissions Trading Bill will simply see rubbish that was previously being buried being burnt instead - rather than being recycled. The UK currently landfills a massive 83% of its municipal waste.

Friends of the Earth is calling for tighter controls to be placed on incineration, banning local councils from using incinerators to burn recyclable waste such as kitchen and garden rubbish or paper, and ending tax breaks which currently make it cheaper to burn waste than to recycle it. [2]

Both landfill and incineration are deeply unpopular in local communities and are a massive waste of the earth's resources. The new Bill would introduce a landfill allowance trading scheme which financially rewards councils which incinerate rather than bury their waste. Friends of the Earth has discovered that some local authorities are already planning to reduce the amount they landfill dramatically, and turn to incineration instead (see Case Studies).

Under the scheme Waste Disposal Authorities will be allocated a landfill allowance for the amount of biodegradable rubbish they can send to landfill. This would decrease annually forcing local authorities to establish other ways of getting rid of biodegradable waste. Waste Disposal Authorities will be able to trade allowances: those land-filling less than their allowance will be able to sell the surplus and those which wish to landfill more than their allowance will need to buy extra allowances.

With co-incineration plants also receiving tax breaks to burn waste, incinerator operators could reduce their gate fees to compete, making the prospect even more attractive for local authorities [3].

Claire Wilton, Senior Waste Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:

"We need to move away from burying our waste in holes in the ground, but the last thing we should do is burn it instead. This new law could tempt more local authorities into signing long-term contracts with incinerator operators, as the cheapest and quickest way to meet their strict landfill allowances. The Government should prevent any more incinerators being built by introducing a tax on incineration and banning councils from burning any recyclable waste."

Case studies

• Brighton, Hove and East Sussex councils, in a confidential report [4], have identified that their contract with major incinerator company Onyx Aurora will enable them to sell surplus landfill permits, generating additional income for the councils. Onyx plans to build an incinerator in Newhaven with a capacity of 250,0000. The councils intend to recycle just 40% by 2015.

• Norfolk County Council has voted for a policy of landfilling nothing by 2010, but rejected a 50% recycling target recommended by local Friends of the Earth supporters. The policy means that a form of incineration could fill the gap between recycling just 36% and landfilling nothing. Norfolk could incinerate up to 64% of its waste. A report to the County Council's cabinet on 14 July 2003 [5] acknowledged the council "may be able to buy and sell tradable landfill permits for `unused' landfill space. This would allow [Norfolk]… a possible `windfall'."

Notes

[1] The Waste and Emissions Trading Bill is intended to implement the provisions of the EU Landfill Directive which set targets for the UK to reduce landfilling of biodegradable municipal waste to 75% in 2010, 50% in 2013 and 35% in 2020, the baseline being the amount of waste produced in 1995.

[2] Incineration is already cheaper than recycling thanks to the perverse tax breaks it receives from schemes like the Climate Change Levy and the Renewables Obligation as well as enhanced capital allowances and exemptions from business rates.

If recycling and composting were given financial support equivalent to that given to incineration, it would amount to e.g. 622 per tonne of aluminium recycled; 217 per tonne of textiles recycled; and 41 per tonne of paper recycled. `Money to Burn: perverse subsidies for incineration', research from Eunomia for Friends of the Earth, forthcoming.

[3] ENDS Report No. 334, September 2003

[4] Confidential report to Cabinet dated 12 March 2003. In Appendix P2 to that report,'Quantified and Unquantified Risks' there is a section headed 'Purchase and sale of landfill permits' [p.14 of 52]. The text reads 'The solution proposed by Onyx Aurora will mean that the Councils may have surplus tradeable landfill permits due to the high level of diversion from landfill. It may be possible to sell these permits, generating additional income for the councils. The value of these permits will be determined by market forces and is therefore unquantifiable at present'.

[5] "NCC's Preferred Approach to Waste", Joint Report by the Chairman of the Project Board and Director of Planning and Transportation, 14 July 2003. The report states: "it is suggested that WDAs [waste disposal authorities] may be able to buy and sell tradable landfill permits for "unused" landfill space. This would allow [Norfolk]… a possible `windfall' to fund waste minimisation and or enhanced levels of recycling and composting." However, with Norfolk's lack of ambition to recycle more than 36% of its waste, it is hard to see how this money would be spent on recycling.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust