Opposition to Mass Burn Incinerator in Bristol (Paul Harrod)

Opposition to Mass Burn Incinerator in Bristol

December 20, 2007 12:00 AM

After news broke that the Labour and Conservatives are planning the construction of Mass Burn Incinerator in Bristol, I have set up an online campaign and petition. Please follow the link below and sign up. Make sure that the Labour and Conservative Councillors on Bristol City Council hear the strength of feeling opposed to these proposals. I, together with Liberal Democrat Councillors and MPs from across the region, strongly oppose these plans. Below is a copy of the letter that i sent to the Evening Post on this issue.

"Dear Sir,

As you reported on the 19th December Liberal Democrats from across the region led a protest against proposals from the West of England Partnership Waste Strategy committee (comprising seven Conservative and one Labour councillor) to introduce a giant waste incinerator in Avonmouth.

I endorse the comments made by Friends of the Earth. These incinerators are an expensive, polluting and deeply flawed solution and are usually tied to long-term contracts that mean levels of household waste have to be guaranteed: a disincentive to boost recycling. Nor is it sensible for lorries from all across the region to be bringing rubbish to Avonmouth to burn.

My complaint is also that this demonstrates a fundamental lack of courage and vision on behalf of the Partnership, and Bristol City Council in particular.

Bristol aspires to be the "Green Capital." We are about to get a new Science Park which could be the greenest in the UK. Bristol is a Science City. We have two world-class Universities active in this area of research. We have a thriving Bristol Environmental Technology Initiative (BETS) that is well supported by local businesses. Why can't we back 'home grown' businesses and social enterprises to come up with more of the solution? Both to increase recycling from its current rate of 40% and safely and efficiently to generate energy from much of the remainder of that waste. Returning to mass incineration should not be part of that solution."

Join the campaign at www.ourcampaign.org.uk/noincinerator