Secret incinerator vote
Jan 30 2008 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal
PROTESTS are expected tonight as city leaders prepare to meet behind closed doors to discuss proposals for a new incinerator south of the Tyne.
Councillors in Sunderland are to discuss options for a new waste strategy which may include burning household rubbish for energy – and see a multi-million-pound incinerator built despite public opposition.
Sunderland, Gateshead and South Tyneside councils are together looking at a solution to the growing waste crisis, prompted by Government threats to fine councils millions of pounds if they keep dumping large amounts in landfill.
In the secret report to be discussed tonight, the nine options for tackling waste are graded by officer preference.
The Journal has been told the option of building an incinerator – possibly in Sunderland – was rated 10 out of 10.
It would cost at least £120m to build, though the overall waste strategy could end up costing more than £1bn.
Yesterday South Tyneside Friends of the Earth called on the council to “stop hiding away on difficult decisions”.
Spokesman Brian Atkinson said: “Government at any level should be open and this is a decision which will affect people in Tyneside and Wearside and it is disgraceful to think they can just do this behind closed doors. We have been told before that these incinerators are safe only to then watch as they are closed down for health reasons. Even modern incinerators still produce some toxic chemicals and they are still a health risk.” The group hopes for a “noticeable” turnout at the Sunderland Council meeting.
The three councils in the South of Tyne and Wear Partnership are considering nine options, which include: to continue as currently; anaerobic digestion of all waste; mechanical biological treatment (refuse-derived fuel); mechanical biological treatment (landfill); autoclaving (refuse-derived fuel); energy from waste (incinerator); advanced thermal treatment (incinerator); aerobic digestion and energy from waste (combined heat and power, incinerator).
Project director Fiona Brown said the council was considering all the options.
“We can’t continue to send waste to landfill and our local residents recognise that. We have set a target to increase recycling across the three councils to 50% by 2020, but that will still leave an estimated 185,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste.
“There isn’t necessarily one solution. We might use a combination of existing waste management facilities – or emerging technology might mean we use something else altogether. This is the first step in our making this possible.”
A spokeswoman for Gateshead Council, which leads the partnership, said the meeting would be behind closed doors as PFI construction contracts would be discussed.
The full council meeting at Sunderland Civic Centre starts at 6pm.
Comment: Page 10
