Research by Greenpeace, published today, shows that of 84 current and proposed rubbish incinerators in the UK, the vast majority are to be built under Labour-controlled planning authorities in parliamentary constituencies that were Labour-held prior to the general election.
The Labour Party is the only mainstream party not calling for a moratorium on new incinerators despite the fact that the vast majority of proposed incinerators will be in areas controlled by Labour before the election. Tony Blair has previously stated his desire to see incinerators built "over the whole country".
Both Liberal Democrats and Conservatives have made manifesto pledges to halt the building of incinerators until the effects on public health have been established. The Environment Agency and the House of Commons Select Committee on the Environment both admit that the health effects of incinerators are not yet fully known.
The analysis of the 84 current and proposed incinerators - based on official data from DTI consultants and the Energy from Waste Association - shows the following political breakdown:
| Controlled Planning Authority | Held Parliamentary Constituency | |
| Labour | 48 | 61 |
| Conservative | 14 | 14 |
| Lib Dem | 7 | 7 |
| Others | 15 | 2 |
| Total | 84 | 84 |
Blake Lee-Harwood, Head of the Toxics Campaign at Greenpeace, said:
"This research clearly demonstrates that incineration is a Labour Party fetish. While all other mainstream parties recognise the genuine concerns that people have over the health impacts of waste incineration, the Labour Party is happy to preside over a massive influx of new rubbish burners."
" Most informed commentators accept that there are many unanswered questions about the health effects of incinerators yet Labour have simply dismissed public concerns as unworthy of consideration."
The most notorious by-products of burning rubbish are dioxins, which are formed when substances that contain chlorine, like PVC plastic, are burnt. Dioxins are highly toxic and accumulate in the food chain. The most dangerous dioxin is classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and has been described as the most toxic chemical known to science.
The burning of household rubbish also leads to the formation of many other new and toxic chemical compounds. The number of new substances released from incineration may run into thousands and these will be emitted both as toxic gases from chimneys and as contaminated ash. This leads to the contamination of air, soil and groundwater, as well as plants, animals and humans.
Blake Lee-Harwood said:
"Incinerators are an environmental disaster which bombard their neighbours with dangerous chemicals and leave behind a massive toxic residue of ash. The Government should recognise public fears over incineration and abandon this dangerous technology. At the very least, Labour should follow the lead of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats and announce a moratorium on rubbish burning until the health impacts are fully understood."
Burning rubbish not only threatens the environment and human health but also undermines targets for waste reduction and recycling. Contracts with incinerator operators often lock local authorities into long-term commitments to provide huge amounts of waste each year which then disrupts local recycling schemes.
The current massive expansion in incinerators in the UK is largely driven by the impact of the EU landfill directive. This will mean that by 2010 the UK will have to reduce biodegradable municipal waste by 25% (compared to a 1995 baseline). By 2013 the reduction has to be 50% and by 2020 it has to be 65%.
Further information:
Contact:
Greenpeace Press Office on 020 7865 8255
