Greenpeace will argue for an immediate ban on new waste incinerators at the Government's 'Waste Summit', held today (21/11/01) in London. The environment group will present a policy aimed at achieving maximum possible reductions in the disposal of municipal waste and propose a new way forward in waste management involving waste reduction, re-use, recycling and composting.
The meeting, called by DEFRA chief Margaret Beckett, is aimed at ironing out what she calls "profound disagreements over disposal methods" for household waste, and will be attended by Ministers, top government officials, representatives from the waste industry and environment groups.
Greenpeace will be asking the Government to do three things to take the UK from the dark ages of waste disposal to a new age of waste utilisation:
1. A clear direction. The following changes to the current national waste strategy are necessary:
a. No new incineration or other thermal treatment plants.
b. The "Recovery" targets of 45% by 2010, 67% by 2015, should be converted to recycling targets with the goal of zero waste by 2020.
c. Mandatory separated organics collections throughout the UK within five years.
d. A ban on uncomposted organic waste to landfill by 2010
2. Transformed incentives. These should include:
a. The introduction of a disposal tax. A tax on incineration should be set at a level equal to that for landfill.
b. The end of hidden subsidies for incinerators:
i) No more PFI (private finance initiative) money for incinerator-based projects
ii) the end of the classification of incinerator bottom ash as inert for tax purposes
iii) the end of PRN's (packaging recycling notes) for incinerators
iv) the end of the exemption of incinerators from the climate change levy.
3. Transitional finance. Money could be provided through:
a. Landfill tax reform.
b. An eventual increase in landfill tax to £5 per tonne.
c. An incineration tax rising to £5 per tonne.
d. Producer responsibility (eg adapting PRNs).
e. Direct government funding.
Mark Strutt, Toxics Campaigner for Greenpeace, said:
"It is time the Government provided some leadership and made it clear that old disposal technologies like incineration and landfill are a thing of the past. This review of policy is an opportunity for the Government to back a strategy that can take us out of the dark ages of waste disposal to a new era of utilising the resources in household waste".
Greenpeace will present delegates at the meeting with two reports; a practical guide for waste authorities who wish to reduce landfill without resorting to incinerators, and a document outlining policy measures needed to transform the UK to a Zero Waste society.
Further information:
Contact:
Greenpeace press office 020 7865 8255/6
