Andrew has received a reply to his latest representation to ministers objecting to waste incineration in general and the burner planned for Westbury in particular.
Andrew is campaigning for a moratorium on new burners and an incinerator tax similar to the current landfill tax to encourage more responsible waste management. His aim is to stop the incinerator at Westbury allowed by the Bristol-based planning inspectorate and to halt further waste burners.
In the reply (attached) planning minister Rachel Maclean MP confirms that from 2028 burners will no longer have their privileged position under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The minister also says that DEFRA will be publishing a review currently underway of planned incinerator capacity. Andrew recently met with DEFRA Secretary of State Therese Coffey to discuss his concerns and to urge a change of policy on incinerators. He said;
"I sense that we're making progress against these unloved, unnecessary, polluting monstrosities.
"That they manage to eek out a little bit of energy from material they burn is being used as a fig leaf to disguise the underlying nature of the operation which should have no place in modern waste management. The fight goes on."
