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| Sheffield incinerator: the capped chimney |
Three Greenpeace volunteers today (6/12/01) pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal damage in connection with the occupation of Sheffield waste incinerator in May. Their case was directed to Crown Court for trial. A fourth volunteers had his proceedings adjourned. There will be a further hearing at Sheffield Magistrates Court for committal.
The Greenpeace volunteers occupied the 75-metre chimney of the Bernard Road incinerator and rubbish tipping hall for three days in May (from 22nd to 24th) after a report identified the plant as the worst in England. The Greenpeace report revealed that the plant had exceeded legal pollution limits 156 times in the past two years and discharged tonnes of toxic chemicals on to the people of Sheffield [1]. Onyx UK, which has taken over the running of waste management services from Sheffield City Council have agreed to close the plant.
All incinerators release a toxic cocktail of chemicals that can cause cancers, heart disease and breathing illnesses. Sheffield incinerator has been the centre of controversy for many years with constant technical problems and a prosecution by the Environment Agency in 1999 for persistent pollution offences. The plant releases hundreds of tonnes of toxic gases such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides on to the surrounding area as well as quantities of toxic metals such as cadmium and mercury, fine particles and a group of highly toxic chemicals called dioxins.
Notes for editors:
The four volunteers are Huw Williams, 36 from Buxton, Rachel Murray 28, from Glasgow, Chris Holden, 24 from London and Al Baker, 37, from Brighton.
[1] Incineration: Criminal Damage. A Review of Compliance by English Municipal Waste Incinerators with Legal Pollution Standards for 1999 and 2000, is also available from the Greenpeace press office.
Further information:
Contact:
Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255
