News today that the contentious Cardiff Incinerator, built by the multinational company Viridor, has been officially signed off by Cardiff Council on behalf of the five local authorities of Monmouth, Newport, Vale of Glamorgan, Caerphilly and Cardiff was greeted with dismay by all green campaigners and the majority of local residents.
Pippa Bartolotti, Wales Green Party Leader said “This decision is wrong on every count, from the air pollution which will damage health prospects for thousands, to the fact that perfectly saleable recyclable materials will go up in smoke. The world will soon be reaching a crisis of raw materials, and even our own Environment Bill White paper seeks to ensure no recyclates are incinerated, Wales has perversly decided to burn. “The people of Wales will be paying a high price for this incinerator in terms our future health and our wallets. Recycling rates are going up, and overall waste is going down. When the contracted amount of waste does not arrive at the incinerator door, taxpayers will have to make good the shortfall in hard cash. It’s a lose, lose situation and yet another example of profits being sucked out of our local economies by large multinational organisations with no thought for locals having to breathe in dioxins and other harmful substances.” The incinerator at Splott was built speculatively by Viridor, yet the Wales government will be paying £1.1 billion over 25 years to the company. There is no district heating network in place, therefore all of the generated heat will be wasted.
The Wales Green Leader added, “A £100m subsidy from WG together with £300m from the five Local authorities is a very high price for 40 jobs. Wales could have paid a fraction of the cost for an MBT (Mechanical, Biological Treatment) plant such as the one being successfully used for Bristol and surrounding counties, which maximises recycling and does not damage health.”
Monmouthshire achieved 68% recycling in the 2nd quarter Jul-Sep 2013 and may therefore start the project below the agreed guaranteed minimum tonnages
Viridor did not win a competitive tender. The other shortlisted companies pulled out of the scheme.
Other, more environmentally sustainable schemes were not included in the Prosiect Gwyrdd shortlist. An MBT plant at Avonmouth was built for a fraction of the cost in a fraction of the time. This plant has been very successful for the Bristol area, and has recently expanded. Pippa Bartolotti is also Wales Green Party European Candidate