Five Greenpeace volunteers face a committal hearing at Enfield Magistrates Court on Tuesday 30th January in connection with the occupation of Edmonton waste incinerator in October 2000. All five volunteers are charged with criminal damage, conspiracy to commit criminal damage and aggravated trespass. The hearing will decide if the Greenpeace volunteers should face trial by jury in a Crown Court.
The Greenpeace volunteers occupied the 100-metre chimney of Edmonton waste incinerator in North London for four days last year (from 9th to 13th October) and forced the plant to stop discharging toxic pollution over the surrounding area.
Edmonton incinerator, Britain's largest rubbish burner, is owned by London Waste - a joint venture between seven North London boroughs and SITA, a private French company. Despite evidence that burning rubbish exposes people to chemicals that can cause cancer and other health problems, the Government is still considering whether to permit Edmonton to expand its operations by 50 per cent.
The Government has already promised taxpayers' money for a further four-fold increase in the number of incinerators across the UK. Currently there are 13 operating municipal waste incinerators in the UK of which Edmonton is the biggest, and another 33 incinerators in planning or under construction. Government officials are still talking in terms of a hundred or more being built. London, Glasgow, Manchester, Bristol and Newcastle are all under threat from the expansion.
Newcastle city council in court for dumping toxic incinerator ash on allotments
On the same day as the Greenpeace volunteers' committal hearing, Newcastle upon Tyne City Council will be appearing in a magistrate's court. The council is facing 15 charges under the Environmental Protection Act for dumping 2000 tonnes of toxic incinerator ash in parks, allotments and bridleways across the city. The toxic ash came from the Byker incinerator, which like Edmonton is owned by SITA.
Notes to editors:
The five volunteers are Rob Gueterbock 30, Frank Hewetson, 35, both from London, Richard Watson, 36 from Lancashire, Janet Miller, 45, from Derbyshire and Christian Aslund, 26, from Sweden.
The hearing will be at 9.45am, Tuesday 30th January at Enfield Magistrate's Court, corner of Bruce Grove and Lordship lane, N17.
Further information:
Contact:
Greenpeace press office on: 020 7865 8255
