The proposed expansion of Edmonton incinerator (currently being considered for approval by Stephen Byers, Secretary of State at the Department of Trade and Industry) could result in an extra seven deaths per year according to Government figures released by Greenpeace today]. The expansion would also cause 80,000 extra journeys by rubbish trucks and cause an increase in polluting emissions equivalent to 250,000 car journeys per day. Greenpeace research has also shown that the number of incinerators in London is set to expand from two to six with proposals now in place in Belvedere (Bexley), Dagenham, Alperton ( Brent ) and Nine Elms (Battersea).
Matthew Spencer, Campaigns Manager at Greenpeace in the UK, said: "Stephen Byers should turn down the Edmonton and Belvedere incinerator applications. We don't need another public enquiry to know that these incinerators would be a disaster for London - even the Government expects them to cause extra deaths and pollution to a city that is already suffering. We urgently need effective recycling schemes rather than yet more crazy plans to burn rubbish."
In the last few years both Labour and Conservative Governments have awarded cash subsidies to incinerators planned in Edmonton, Lambeth, Dagenham, Brent and Bexley through their renewable energy support scheme. The contracts submitted under the Non Fossil Fuel Obligation( NFFO) amount to millions of pounds of subsidy that comes directly from consumer electricity bills. Whilst many incinerators have not yet succeeded in getting planning permission, most of the contracts remain intact. The Belvedere scheme in Bexley and the Edmonton expansion have both applied for planning permission and are currently being considered by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
Greenpeace volunteers have now entered the third day of their occupation of Edmonton incinerator in North London - Britain's largest domestic rubbish incinerator. The volunteers have spent a wet and windy night perched on top of the 100-metre-high chimney but remain determined to continue the occupation.
Matthew Spencer said: "Every day we keep Edmonton closed means two tonnes less of acid gases landing on London. We are determinded to stay in place until the Government sees sense and stops threatening the public's health by burning rubbish."
Notes to Editors:
[1] Greenpeace has examined the evidence from London Waste Ltd about the effects of expanding Edmonton incinerator and compared it to Department of Health figures for early deaths from acid gases and particulates from incinerators. The figures predict that the Edmonton expansion would cause seven extra deaths a year as a result of increased pollution.
An expert group from the Department of Health calculated that a new EU directive on waste incineration would result in 5 deaths ' not being brought forward' annually because of the reduced pollution from acid gases and particulates. The main gases implicated in early death is nitrogen dioxide and they were expected to fall by 153 tonnes per year. However the benefits of this directive are outweighed by the increase in total incineration expected for the UK. At Edmonton alone the expansion of the plant will result in the emission of an extra 345 tonnes of nitrogen dioxide per year. Using the Department of Healths own cost-benefit analysis it is apparent that Edmonton will 'bring forward' an extra 7 deaths if it is allowed to expand.
[The Department of Health's Economic Appraisal of Health Effects of Air Pollution (EAHEAP) prepared a cost benefit analysis which calculated 'Number of deaths not brought forward' per tonne of pollution avoided. The figures are 0.02 deaths a year per tonne of NOx, 0.005 deaths per tonne of SO2 and 0.002 deaths per tonne of particulates. The figures are quoted in the DETR's report: Regulatory and Environmental Impact Assessment of the proposed Waste Incineration Directive.]
