Renew On Line (UK) 39

Extracts from the Sept-Oct 2002 edition of Renew
These extracts only represent about 25% of it

3. Waste Hierarchy Defended

Expansion of Edmonton Waste Combustion Plant Blocked

Brian Wilson, Energy Minister, has turned down an application to extend the existing 55 MW energy-from-waste power station at Edmonton, North London. The extension would have an annual throughput of waste of around 285,000 tonnes over and above the existing station’s capacity of 550,000 tonnes per annum. This waste combustion plant has been the focus of much campaigning by Greenpeace amongst others, on the grounds of the risks from emissions. However Wilsons objections were focussed on the other main issue, the potential for undermining waste recycling. He said that granting consent would be contrary to the Government's waste strategy policy as set out in "Waste Strategy 2000".

Wilson noted that ‘Our policy is that waste should be minimised and recycling and composting undertaken before energy from waste is considered. I have considered all the information placed before me, both for and against the extension, and have concluded that the existing station is large enough to deal with the North London Waste Authority’s(NLWA) residual waste after recycling. To grant consent for the extension would result in a station with an overall capacity capable of handling all of NLWA’s municipal waste and could mean that the NLWA had little incentive to do more recycling over and above the minimum required by statute. Also should the NLWA meet or better its recycling targets then this would lead to a shortfall in the waste stream for the extended station and could lead to waste being imported from other areas which would be contrary to the Proximity Principal whereby waste should be treated as near to its origin as possible.’

He added ‘I have also considered the measures the applicant has undertaken to incorporate at the Edmonton site to encourage recycling, composting and using heat for local district heating schemes. While these measures are to be welcomed I am aware that previous ones of a similar type on the site have been closed or not utilised. I am of the opinion that at the present time they are not sufficient to justify granting consent to the extension. Indeed should such measures prove successful then there would appear to me to be less justification for the need for the extension’.

He concluded, ‘in refusing consent I should make it clear that the Government is not against energy-from-waste stations where they are clearly required and properly sized. The requirement of our policy is that statutory recycling targets must be met and that no incineration proposal shall be permitted which will pre-empt recycling or reduce the option for recycling for the future.’

It’s good to see the government sticking to its principles, but surely the policy that had been adopted was to exclude all mass burn waste combustion from the Renewables Obligation, in preference for pyrolysis and gassification plants. And while recycling is obviously a good thing, there will be limits to what can achieved by cash-strapped Local Authorities, in which case, with the cash penalties for landfill growing, there is going to be a need to find a solution to the growing waste outputs. Wouldn’t it be better if we stopped producing so much in the first place?