West London Friends of the Earth has discovered a reason why Richmond council and the technical advisor [Note 1] to the West London Waste Authority (WLWA) may be so keen on incinerating waste.

Richmond council is proposing to sell off half its Central Depot in Langhorn Drive, Twickenham for housing. [Note 2] This is the site where Richmond currently sorts a limited range of materials for recycling and is the only land that is likely to be available for the many new initiatives such as composting and improved recycling rates. Richmond needs to implement these measures if it is improve its waste disposal performance to required levels and avoid wholesale incineration.

Margaret Salasidis, waste campaigner for West London Friends of the Earth, said "The sale by Richmond of its waste depot land for housing is outrageous. There is widespread public concern about the health and other impacts if our waste were to be burnt at the monster incinerator at Colnbrook. Yet by trying to sell of the land, Richmond council are sabotaging attempts to increase recycling, composting and other measures which would eliminate the need for incineration."

When asked recently how it plans to expand sustainable waste management practices to make room for more recycling and create community composting, the Council responded that there was difficulty in finding sites in Richmond Borough.

Margaret Salasidis continued "Richmond council is being devious and disingenuous in it approach to waste. It is apparently more interested in helping developers make fat profits from council land than using that land to improve its performance on waste and thereby protect its population from the risks of incineration." [Note 3]

West London Friends of the Earth is concerned that there may be hidden agendas in other boroughs, which could explain the continuing support for incineration. [Note 4]

Friends of the Earth has raised the issue with the Mayor, via the London Green Party Assembly member, Darrren Johnson, as incineration runs counter to the Mayor's waste strategy. We understand that the issue is being investigated.

Contact: Margaret Salasidis 020 8876 4987, mob 07785 937 732

1. The technical advisor for WLWA is David Streeter. He is also an officer for Richmond council. We have just heard that he has resigned his post in Richmond council.

2. The proposal to sell off land is contained in 'Supplementary Planning Guidance' on the Crane Valley issued recently by the London Borough of Richmond.

3. Margaret Salasidis is addressing the Richmond Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday night.

4. Following pressure from Friends of the Earth and others, WLWA decided that instead of opting for an immediate contract to incinerate waste, they would go to tender for a contact which would includes more environmentally friendly options. However, they have still not ruled out incineration. While this was decided by a majority of the councillors on the WLWA board, Hillingdon as well as Richmond wanted to go for an immediate incineration contract.

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