Two vocal UK anti-incineration campaigners to address meeting

TWO vocal British anti-incineration campaigners will address a public meeting in Londonderry on Thursday (September 19) arranged by local lobbyists Zero Waste North West in opposition to plans for a gasification plant in Strathfoyle. Retired chemist and toxicologist, Dr Paul Connett, and Mal Williams, the Executive Director of Zero Waste Wales, have been invited to address the meeting at 7.30pm in the City Hotel.

Attwood acknowledged gasification is incineration.

Dr Connett spoke against incineration as a waste management option for Londonderry back in 2002. And Mr Williams encouraged the Welsh Government’s adoption of its ‘Towards Zero Waste’ strategy in 2010.

The meeting will be chaired by local campaigner Mary McGuiggan.

In May Derry City Council and six other local authorities across the North West appointed a consortium consisting of Shanks, Brickkiln and Sisk to deliver the new £500m jobs-boosting super-incinerator in Strathfoyle.

The plant will handle a massive 140k tonnes of household waste - the equivalent of the EU’s annual beef exports - every year from homes from Strabane to Moyle by 2015/16.

The North West Region Waste Management Group (NWRWMG) believes the plant can generate enough renewable electricity to power the equivalent of 6,000 homes annually.

Former Environment Minister Alex Attwood had for some time insisted the plant was not an incinerator despite the fact it will incinerate waste and thus produce ash and is also deemed by the European Commission as such.

He ultimately relented, however, and acknowledged it is an incinerator.Prior to the public meeting on Thursday, local artists are holding a ‘Rock Against Incineration - Rock Against Gasification’ gig on Wednesday (September 18). The fund-raising event will take place in Sandino’s bar in Water Street from 9pm and admission is £5.