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Waste is to become a burning issue as councils opt to incinerate rubbish in a bid to beat EU landfill fines. The Environment Agency has revealed it is considering an ‘unusually high' nine applications by councils to build incinerators to generate energy from household waste – up 50% on the 18 currently operating. The increase in applications could be down to the looming pressure of the 2010 EU Landfill Directive, which will see councils fined for exceeding an ever-decreasing quota allowed to be landfilled. A drop-off in the market for recyclable waste may also have played a part. An Environment Agency spokesperson commented: ‘Nine applications is unusually high but not surprising, given the tough landfill diversion targets which lie ahead for local authorities. ‘Well-managed, energy-from-waste plants will not cause significant pollution of the environment or harm human health. Recovering energy and heat from waste can contribute to a balanced energy policy for local authorities to deal with waste.' But Dr Michael Warhurst, of Friends of the Earth, disagreed. He said: ‘Councils burning rubbish send valuable resources up in smoke, and contribute to climate change.' The LGA said local authorities should prioritise recycling as the way out of the current waste crisis. The nine applications are for incinerators in Cornwall, Exeter, Lancashire, West Sussex, East Sussex, Devon, Wales, Bristol and Surrey.

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CLIMATE CHANGE

Councils all fired up over burning waste

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