Greens reject government call for more incineration

18 January 2006 - The news has emerged that the New Labour government is preparing to announce near-threefold increase in the amount of incineration of waste planned for, in Britain. This news follows hard on the heels of the decision by Conservative-run Norfolk County Council to build an incinerator.

Norfolk Greens deplore these government plans. County Councillor Andrew Boswell, who has been leading the opposition to the incinerator planned for Costessey, on the outskirts of Norwich, made this impassioned statement: "This incinerator is unpopular, as would be the three further incinerators that the County Council is thinking of building, and that it will presumably now be encouraged to build, as a result of this government announcement.

"Meanwhile, there are serious health concerns about incineration. What is really needed is to increase recycling levels. Building an incinerator would reduce the Council’s incentive to back recycling, as the incinerator would need a high level of waste to feed it, if it was to be run cost-effectively. In the twenty-first century, the only green solution is to reduce packaging, increase recycling-levels, and build smaller-scale anaerobic digestion plants. The government should take urgent action to legislate against profligate packaging – like the polluter, 'the packager should pay'."

Norfolk Green Party Press Officer, Councillor Rupert Read, added: "Now, we see the true colours of the 'grey' parties, on this vital issue. There seems to be no difference between Labour policy on incineration nationally and Tory policy on incineration locally. But it's not too late to re-think; surely, the voice of the people, which is clearly against incineration, must be heard? Surely, the politicians making these bad decisions must think again."

Councillor Adrian Ramsay, Co-ordinator of the Green group on Norwich City Council, commented: "Because the Greens hold the balance of power on the City Council, we have been able successfully to insist on improvements in recycling facilities in Norwich. We are committed to funding further significant improvements in recycling - which will further undermine the arguments for incineration."