Sussex: Forum urges re-think over incineration ideas

AN independent forum has called for large-scale incineration to be struck from council waste plans.

The Independent Waste Forum, comprising 21 people selected at random from East Sussex and Brighton and Hove, produced a report on controversial proposals which could result in incinerators being built on Newhaven s North Quay and at Mountfield Mine, near Robertsbridge.

The report, which calls incinerators 'energy from waste plants (efw), says: 'In view of the uncertainty among experts, we consider that the jury is still out on health effects from efw plant and it would be unwise to dismiss people s concerns at this stage.'

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It stressed the significance of recycling in the plan: Given the importance we attach to recycling, we strongly oppose the use of any mass burn efw to fulfil any part of the strategy.

' . . We consider that such a commitment to large scale efw plant would reduce the pressure, the capacity, and the willingness to recycle.'

However, it continues: 'The majority of us reluctantly accept that, as a last resort, there may be a role in the future for smaller scale plants. Therefore, we believe that it would be unwise to restrict the possibility of efw incineration plants to only two sites at this stage.'

Framework

It also called for a strict framework for the waste contract and warned: We see considerable potential dangers in allowing purely commercial interests effectively to determine long term strategy for waste disposal and collection.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Tom Crossett, convenor of the forum, which was born out discussions of the two council s original waste plan, said: We shall not solve our waste problems in the city and the county until we change the way we use and lose materials. The forum hopes that its views will encourage our councillors to develop and deliver a waste strategy which inspires and enables us to make that change.

County councillor for Newhaven David Rogers said the plan should be incorporated into the next draft of the waste local plan.

He said: I welcome this report unreservedly, but the battle is far from over yet.

He added: The forum s report says that the jury is still out on the health effects of efw plant and that large scale efw plants would generate substantial traffic . . . and thus would be contrary to the proximity principle . These points are exactly what I have been saying throughout the process thus far, not to mention the effect on confidence in Newhaven s regeneration programme.

Published: 21.6.01 Sussex Newspapers Ltd