Monster Incinerator Coming Our Way?

This page was written in 2004. For the latest information see Colnbrook news page and for some of the earlier history see previous news page as well as this page.

Incinerator threatens our health and our environment

Grundon incinerator

The incinerator would burn up to 440,000 tonnes of waste per annum and generate some 150,000 lorry movements.

However, Slough Council is having second thoughts about this.

Although planning permission has been given, the incinerator will not actually be built unless Grundon can sign contracts for sufficient waste to feed the monster day and night. Grundon is lobbying the 'West London Waste Authority' to sign a 20-year contract to burn waste at the Colnbrook incinerator. It is vital that councils are prevailed upon not to sign contracts to incinerate waste.

A campaign group, Slough Anti-Incinerator Network (SAIN), has been set up in Slough where the population would feel the worst effects of the incinerator. West London Friends of the Earth has joined other groups across west London to campaign against the incinerator. They have already gained much public support. Councillors in the 6 boroughs of the 'West London Waste Authority' - Hounslow, Hillingdon, Harrow, Ealing, Brent, Richmond - are in doubt what we and the public think! See campaign update for the latest news.

The local press is also well onto the issue. Articles have appeared in the Berkshire Express, the Richmond Times Series, Uxbridge Gazette, Ealing Gazette, and various others.

The Grundon incinerator is one segment of a 'ring of fire' that could encircle London. There is a threat from the other side of London - Belvedere. That is why it is even more important that we stop all incineration threats now.

Why the Colnbrook Incinerator Would Be Bad For Us All

The incinerator will add to the air pollution burdon around Colnbrook and West London. The air is already heavily polluted and in places it breaches standards set by the government to protect human health.

Due to the cocktail of noxious gases, particulates and even radioactive material thrown into the air, there are major health risks, such as cancers and birth defects.

The incinerator will produce huge volumes of greenhouse gases and thus contribute to global warming.

An incinerator does not even solve our waste disposal problems. It produces large quantities of ash which will have to transported by fleets of lorries and dumped in a landfill site somewhere. Some of the ash - 'fly ash' - is extremely toxic, containing dioxins. That it has to be landfilled at a specially controlled site. The likely site is in Gloucestershire.

This incinerator is a monster that needs to be fed constantly to make it viable. It will compete with more environmentally sound options such as recycling, composting and waste reduction. It will undermine those councils and companies that are trying to dispose of waste in a way that minimises the impact on the environment.

What Happens Next - What can you do?

See our update and campaign page.

Links to Related Pages

Contact

If you would like to know more about our campaign, contact Margaret Salisidis on (020) 8876 4987 or msalasidis@another.com.

(Revised Dec 04)