Group's delight at incinerator cash blow

Trusted article source icon
Friday, October 02, 2009
Profile image for This is HullandEastRiding

This is HullandEastRiding

Campaigners are claiming a victory against controversial plans for an incinerator near Hedon, after the development hit funding problems.

It comes after East Riding and Hull City councils announced a bid for private finance initiative (PFI) cash to help pay for the waste-burning facility was no longer being considered.

The authorities said the global economic crisis meant the financing option had become "un-affordable".

The councils had been seeking £73.7m of PFI money for the incinerator, proposed for a site at Saltend.

John Dennis, spokesman for the Hull and Holderness Opposing the Incinerator (Hoti) group, welcomed news of the funding blow.

He said: "Hoti regards this decision as very positive. We don't yet feel the war has been won, but a significant battle has gone our way."

Earlier this year, the Environment Agency gave the go-ahead for the incinerator to be built.

However, members of Hoti are preparing a legal challenge, calling on European law to help rip up the contract East Riding and Hull councils have with the incinerator operator, Waste Recycling Group (WRG).

Mr Dennis urged people to turn out in force for a march against the incinerator in Hedon tomorrow.

He said: "We are not foolish enough to think it will be a victory march, but Hoti and our supporters will certainly have a spring in their step."

The councils reiterated their commitment to the incinerator, which they said "remains the chosen method to deal with the councils' residual waste".

John Skidmore, director of energy from waste for the two councils, said: "Our joint waste strategy is based upon recycling 45 per cent and diverting the remaining waste from landfill to an energy-from-waste facility."

23
Tweet this article
Report

23 Comments

  • Profile image for This is HullandEastRiding

    by John, Kingston upon Hull

    Tuesday, October 13 2009, 10:21AM

    “The debate about the incinerator fails to address the other options available to the local authorities. Much more attention should be focussed on increasing the recycling and separate collection of household waste. There are already a number of alternative methods of dealing with household waste on our doorstep that need to be examined. For example, I am aware of a composting plant that can take kitchen and garden waste which has recently been granted planning consent and of an anaerobic waste treatment plant that can take kitchen waste. Both are within a 10 mile radius of the centre of Hull. What consideration is being given to the use of these facilities?”

  • Profile image for This is HullandEastRiding

    by JT, Judge Thorn!

    Monday, October 05 2009, 9:56AM

    “Thornboy - perhaps you should change your posting name as using the term boy just enhances yours mindset to us all - that of a boy and your posting reflect that. Why would I be a jealous thicko??? Jealous that the incinerator not being built near me?? I don't think so mate. And as for thicko, well the fact that I went to college and gained over 25 exams in total might just convince people otherwise. I'm not into slanging matches - far too babyish for me - just would like a decent forum with decent comments. You. like myself, post quite a few comments on these forums but all you ever do is put stupid, attacking comments on. If you taking the time to type a message then at least make it a good contribution rather than verbally attacking someone - very immature thornBOY!”

  • Profile image for This is HullandEastRiding

    by Charles, cott

    Sunday, October 04 2009, 1:22AM

    “This is all well and good. But has HOTI got any idea what do to do with Hull's rubbish?”

  • Profile image for This is HullandEastRiding

    by anne, HEDON

    Saturday, October 03 2009, 1:26PM

    “I t was a good turn out today on the march. I believe we should have been recycling years ago! our foreign friends have been doing it for years . BUT think. ! if we do do more recycling, there is less green bin stuff to go into incineration, so where will it come from guys ? abroad ? think. Is this what we really want for our locality ? I don't thats for sure and I will support these guys HOTI that is what ever they do !!”

  • Profile image for This is HullandEastRiding

    by Daniel, Hull

    Saturday, October 03 2009, 11:42AM

    “Now normally I might be tempted to direct my ire at the Not In My Back Yard attitude of people, but honestly I can see why you might object to a waste incinerator (or a new landfill, or anything else collecting together that much waste) being built on your doorstep, especially since I'm guessing there wouldn't be any financial incentive for those who would be most affected. Don't get me wrong, if the scheme is necessary and reasonable measures have been taken to minimise or mitigate negative effects (offering an annual cash payment for those living nearby would seem a nice gesture for instance), then I don't think people should be able to veto a scheme, but in this case I don't think it is necessary.

    Let's look, for just a second, at why an incinerator is even being considered given the pollution it will clearly kick out. Are Hull and East Riding councils considering an incinerator because it's be cleanest way to get rid of rubbish? No. Are they considering it because it's the most cost effective way to get rid of rubbish? No. They're considering it because an artificial price has been placed on the use of Landfill by a European Union directive on reducing waste. A price has to be paid for every ton of rubbish dumped into landfill, and that price is massively increasing which suddenly makes uneconomical and polluting solutions viable. That's the law of unintended consequences, where a generally well meaning person decides the best way to achieve their purpose (reducing the amount of waste we put in landfills) is by imposing a bigger central government control (in this case tax) on it.

    So what is the alternative? Well the best way that I can see is to encourage recycling, and the first part of that, having a decent system of recycling bins, is at least starting to get moving. The other part of that, and I know I'm going to make myself a little unpopular by saying this, is encouraging people to make the effort to recycle. And what is the simplest way to do that? Collect general waste less often and recycling more often. If you know that your general waste is going to be picked up fortnightly but your recycling (including the compostable kitchen waste) will be picked up weekly, you might well be motivated to put food waste into the recycling rather than it sitting in the general waste. If you know you need to fit two week's worth of rubbish into one black wheelie bin, you might well put the paper, cans, cardboard, glass and plastics in the appropriate recycling bins than try to force it all into the general waste.

    Or is that just too simple?”

  • Profile image for This is HullandEastRiding

    by di, hedon

    Friday, October 02 2009, 7:49PM

    “at the end of the day, think about what it does to us! you, and your children. Take it you don't mind your loved ones suffering. The E A say "There are no guarantees if toxic or not " Your sit on your .... and let us march. Know where i ll be .”

  • Profile image for This is HullandEastRiding

    by Jack, preston

    Friday, October 02 2009, 7:35PM

    “thorn boy of thorn seems to be a little prickely - if not quite rude.
    Perhaps if he studied the output of these incinerators, and so become a little educated in the matter, he might even jion the objectors.
    Perhaps not (please)”

  • Profile image for This is HullandEastRiding

    by jason, beverley

    Friday, October 02 2009, 6:41PM

    “they dont want an incinerator they dont want wind turbines moan moan moan i know cut there power supplies and let them bury there rubbish in there own gardens they will soon change there minds then. wingers.”

  • Profile image for This is HullandEastRiding

    by Paul, Hedon

    Friday, October 02 2009, 6:22PM

    “Chrisie, Hull.
    There are already viable options other than incineration which have got past the planning stage like gasification . Unfortunately this wannabe Top Ten city are trying to hoodwink the people of Hull and East Riding into believing that this Technology is safe. It is not it is old technology which distributes Cancer causing Dioxins wherever the wind may blow. The most dangerous particles PM2.5 the WHO cant even identify below a point where these particles do not have an adverse affect on a persons health. The councillors are also not letting you know that Hazardous Toxic Waste is still reproduced and has to be transported to land fill down the very busy road out of Hull Castle Street, imagine the scenario if the lorry crashed and deposited the waste on the road , is is Highly toxic. Get yourself to Hedon and show these councillors that the people have had enough, by the way the tax payers are paying a six figure sum for a councillor to push these measures through , disgraceful.”

  • Profile image for This is HullandEastRiding

    by Rose, Hull

    Friday, October 02 2009, 6:06PM

    “What is the strategic planning policy in Hull For example how impressive would it be for the toursists who visited Hull for the Clipper Race to see the waste incinerator from Sammy's point as as the ships departed Hull's waterfront”

        Your comments awaiting moderation

        Add your comments

        max 4000 characters