Stop Newport Incinerator Campaign

24 Jan 2012

A group of SNIC campaigners travelled to Avonmouth to see a MBT (Mechanical Biological Treatment) plant which is in full operation. It was impressive to see such a safe and intelligent method of waste disposal, and an obvious improvement on incineration, to put it mildly.
The company is called New Earth Solutions, you can google it for more detailed information. NES tendered for Prosiect Gwerdd but were turned down because they did not have a high enough turnover – yet another example of how new technologies are stifled at birth. Instead, the preferred bidders are multinational conglomerates – all of whom major on big incinerators.

The main outcomes of the visit were:
1. The plant processes 170,000 tonnes of MSW (Municipal Solid Waste, commonly known as black bag waste) and cost £25m (£175 for an incinerator)
2. It was built in 10 months
3. Modular additions can be added in a matter of weeks.
4. Modules can be turned on an off as required – contrast with incinerators which have to burn permanently to be efficient
5. Despite green boxes, NES find that 58% of MSW is biomass – useable compost material primarily used growing energy crops.
6. They do not burn anything, plastic and metal is removed upfront, so there are no NOx and SOx poisons emitted
7. MBT is an 85 - 87% diversion from landfill – incinerators send 30% of the input to landfill as bottom ash - which includes burned recyclables.
8. Residual waste is 13-15% and that can be further used in energy production
9. Non ferrous metals are sold to Jaguar Land Rover in Swansea, plastics recovered are also sold on the market at £200 per tonne
10. No money was raised from banks.
11. Potential of carbon tax being added to Incineration – who will pay?
12. The majority of the workforce are from Wales.
13. Pyrolisis and Gasification modules are being added, which cut the overall residue to 6-8%, used in reclamation works and for energy crops.

The contract for this MBT plant is for 9 years, because the mix of waste is expected to change in that period, that is why modular facilities are such a sensible precaution. Contrast this to an incinerator contracted for 25 – 30 years which needs to burn biomass in the mix for it to work properly, which sends harmful particles into the air and which is heavily implicated in the destruction of health. Why on earth is Wales forcing incineration on us, when Bristol and Bath has moved forward with cleaner technology.
The company is happy to host visitors from Newport. Please contact your local councillor with an invitation