‘Time to listen’ say opponents of waste incinerator

Proposals to locate the incinerator in the countryside between York and Harrogate, which is the centrepiece of a 25-year waste management strategy in North Yorkshire, have already generated strong opposition.

More than 10,000 people have signed a petition protesting against the scheme, with many calling on Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to take action.

Now campaigners have commissioned Eunomia, waste management experts, to study the proposals and it has published two reports which raise concerns about the project, which is due to come before planners for consideration later this year.

According to the work done by Eunomia, it finds North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) has over-estimated the volume of household waste that needs treatment.

Peter Topham, chairman of the parish councils group fighting the proposal, said the authority had “to start listening to all those people and organisations that want a much cheaper and more environmentally-friendly alternative”.

Antony Long, chairman of Marton-cum-Grafton Parish Council, added: “Eunomia’s report shows that within 13 years of opening, the county council will be running short of household waste.

“NYCC think they can make the shortage up with trade waste, but Eunomia say this is a very risky strategy.

“We agree with Eunomia that the county council should consider other smaller, less risky options, that don’t need an incinerator.”

Eunomia argue the need to rely on trade waste means the scheme “will not enable NYCC to achieve the current Government’s requirement for 50 per cent recycling by 2020”.

The £1.4bn waste contract with contractor AmeyCespa is to be paid for via the Private Finance Initiative (PFI).

AmeyCespa is proposing to build a large-scale waste management facility for the processing and treatment of up to 320,000 tonnes of waste generated within York and North Yorkshire.

The proposed site is located at Allerton Quarry to the east of Knaresborough off the A168 and next to the A1(M).

Earlier this year, the Highways Agency announced it had asked for any decision on the application to be put on hold for six months for the developer to provide information about planned measures to minimise the impact of site traffic on the A1(M) and, in particular, manage lorry journeys to and from the site.

However, in a response to Harrogate Borough Council, recently debated by members of the authority, AmeyCespa said an updated traffic plan has been provided which it says confirms there is “no significant effect” caused by traffic either during the building of the site or when it is in operation.

In its response, the company also said assessments have been carried out that show claims the development would generate toxic fumes are unsubstantiated.

The company added the scheme will stop authorities relying on landfill sites.

“The principal driver is the need to divert significant quantities of waste from landfill in accordance with all levels of waste policy formulation,” it said.

It has previously said that if household waste levels fall in future, spare capacity would be offered to businesses.

North Yorkshire County Council says the site, together with other waste reduction campaigns, will help divert 75 per cent of household waste from landfill by 2013 and lead to the recycling or composting of 50 per cent of household waste by 2020.

It says the proposed Allerton Waste Recovery Park will help recover as much recyclable material from the waste as it is cost effective to do.

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