Should
they burn rubbish in the centre of our city?
by Andrew Green
Decision
time is coming for the new incinerator proposal. The Council
Planning Board will meet soon, probably in September, to decide
on Onyx’s application to replace the current incinerator
with a giant twice the size.
Onyx, a subsidiary of troubled French-based
transnational Vivendi, argues that burning waste is the only
viable alternative to putting it into landfill, such as Parkwood.
At least burning ‘recovers’ the energy locked
up in waste and uses it to heat buildings and generate electricity,
they claim.
Objectors, such as local campaigners RABID,
Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, say landfill is not the
only alternative to incineration. Recycling could dispose
of virtually all waste, if only the Council and Onyx would
invest in organising its collection and reuse or sale.
In practice, Sheffield does not produce enough
rubbish to feed this monster. To achieve financial viability,
Onyx would have to import waste from Rotherham and Derbyshire.
Our picture shows what the new incinorator
will look like next to the existing chimney, which will also
stay.
The replacement building would be a major
new landmark in the Don Valley, greeting us every morning.
Is it one we want?
RABID
is encouraging people to attend the Planning Board meeting
and express their views. To find out more, contact IMPACT
on 0114 223 0225.
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