The real alternative - the sustainable way
How we would deal with household waste away from an old style incineration solution proposed by the County Council.
First we would undertake an effective waste reduction programme to stop the steady increase in the amount of waste being put in the bin. Then:
2. Recycle, plastics, cans, glass, metal, paper, 40%.
3. This would leave about 35% by weight of more difficult waste that would be initially landfilled but very soon this element would be treated by a Mechanical Biological Treatment to take out more recyclable and compostable materials, and isolate, then stabilise, toxic substances.
The policy will get the County Council out of the mess they currently face because they are relying upon the incinerator at Newhaven in order to meet Government targets and avoid fines for not reducing biodegradable waste currently going to landfill. Even if the incinerator were to be built it will not be in time even on County Council estimates. (Fines will be £150 per tonne under the Landfill Trading Scheme).
Our policy is in line with advice the County Council received from the Local Government Association in July last year about reducing the risk of penalties for failing to deal with waste. "Since most of the risk arises from the difficulty of building treatment or disposal infrastructure in time, the lowest risk option is to drive up recycling and composting of the biodegradable elements of household waste …"
The County Council is playing a high risk strategy with your health and money. You have told them about your concerns for health, and they already know that the success rate in the UK for an incinerator planning application is down to 43%.
Figures based upon Government document "Waste not, Want not" and published waste bin analysis for Brighton and Hove area.
E Collict, 23rd April, 2005. Ref c: The real alterative1.doc
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