Expert warns of incinerator plant dangers (From Warrington Guardian)

Expert warns of incinerator plant dangers

THE chairman of a leading anti-incinerator group is hopeful his battle to stop an incinerator being placed in Lostock Gralam has taken a step in the right direction.

Brian Cartwright, who runs Cheshire Anti-Incinerator Network (CHAIN), says a presentation given to Cheshire Waste Partnership - the body responsible for determining the county's waste management for the next 20 years - last Wednesday by a leading toxicological expert is a step forward.

Dr Vyvyan Howard met representatives from Cheshire County Council authorities - including Macclesfield, Congleton, Crewe and Nantwich, Ellesmere Port and Neston, the City of Chester and Vale Royal - at Delamere House in Crewe to inform them about dangers from obnoxious chemicals released during incineration.

Brian said: "There is a divide between those who believe the risks are real and those who choose not to accept them but while there is any doubt, it makes no sense to proceed. We have a perfectly good scheme in place at the moment and there are real alternatives to incineration, such as maximum recycling and mechanical biological treatment plants - where products are reduced to refuse-derived fuel which does not need burning - and hopefully the authorities listened to Dr Howard's advice.

But lead councillor for waste Malcolm Gaskill said he is unsure the presentation will prevent an incineration plant.

He said: "Dr Howard is renowned for being an authority on dioxins and waste incineration and although everyone listened to his viewpoints, they have been presented with the facts, figures and scare stories before and haven't listened.

"The authorities seem hell-bent on incineration, which is totally unnecessary. We need to re-educate people to think about recycling when they're walking into a supermarket, not after they've bought over-packaged products.

"Zero waste strategy is almost impossible but countries such as New Zealand are achieving about 80 per cent so a change in attitudes is what's needed. I recycle everything I can and only have half a carrier bag leftover each fortnight so why can't other people do the same?

"The dangers from incineration can affect unborn children and young girls in particular and I don't want to be responsible in 20 years for the effects caused by an incinerator in Lostock Gralam."

l NORTHWICH residents are being advised by the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) to take notice about proposals to site an incinerator in Lostock Gralam.

CPRE chairman Richard Bass said the proposed plant, which is part of a strategy for reducing the need for new landfill sites, will cause traffic problems as well as potential health complaints from toxic emissions.

He added: "Building a plant of economic size will require substantial volumes of waste to be trucked into the heart of Cheshire for incineration. A full scientific appraisal is planned for April 2006 and no one should be rushed into agreeing anything until the results are available.

"We must all keep an eye on this and take every opportunity to lobby our councillors and MPs about it."