Waste-to-energy incinerators - bad for Oldham, bad for climate change

17 October 2021

Oldham & Saddleworth Green Party warns that these incinerators are not a low carbon option, they increase climate change. Any plans for one in Oldham should be scrapped.

Oldham and Saddleworth Green Party welcomes the news that Synergy has not so far pursued its proposals to build a waste-to-energy incinerator in Mossdown Road, Royton (1) but we are concerned that instead of being scrapped the plans are being reviewed.  

It's not just about the increase in heavy traffic or the size of the building, Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) incinerators are not what we need in a climate emrgency.

Climate Emergency

Climate change threatens all our futures. We need urgent action to reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere to net zero.

The electricity generated by the incinerator is presented as low carbon because waste is dealt with locally and not transported by road across the country. But nothing is being said about the plant’s carbon emissions from burning the plastic and other oil based materials that will make up 50% of the waste incinerated. Carbon emissions from these incinerators will stop us reaching the government’s 2050 net zero target, let alone Greater Manchester’s 2038 or Oldham Council’s 2030 targets.

The wrong way on waste

The government policy of funding ERF incinerators means that more of our electricity supply will depend on generating waste. We need to go in the opposite direction and reduce waste: investing in design and production techniques that use less materials; more and better recycling; reusing and repairing. More jobs would be created this way and it would be better for the economy than ERFs.

The Green Party has called on the government to change direction: to require the waste sector, including incinerator emissions, to be zero carbon by 2035 and switch investment to reduction, reuse and recycling.

Let’s learn from Denmark

Denmark has made most use of ERF incinerators to generate electricity and have ended up importing plastic waste to feed them, increasing carbon emissions. The Danish government now recognises they need to close 30% of ERFs to meet climate change targets. (2)

No to ERFs in Oldham

We await the revised plans from Synergy but if they are still for an ERF incinerator they should be rejected.

Notes

1) https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/19644922.oldham-waste-incinerator-plans-off-table/

2) Denmark’s Dilemma

https://www.politico.eu/article/denmark-devilish-waste-trash-energy-incineration-recycling-dilemma/ 

For information on incinerators and local campaigns across the country see UK Without Incinerators Network  https://ukwin.org.uk






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