25th June 2008

Sheffield Green Party has come out against an application by Veolia, who
hold the waste contract for the city, to import 75,000 tons of domestic waste
from nearby towns to feed the incinerator.

A Green councillor Jillian Creasy said, “It’s true that this waste would
otherwise be landfilled and that incineration with energy reclamation is
better than landfill. But Veolia is NOT saving on landfill because it will
simply transport the same amount of commercial waste, currently going to the
incinerator, to a landfill site near Doncaster! 100 ton lorries filled with
waste will be trucking in both directions.

“We are also horrified that the council is considering allowing Veolia to
change how it operates even before it has consulted on or approved a new waste
strategy. This is exactly what happened when the Lib Dems signed the
contract for the incinerator in 2001. Once again they are putting the cart
before the horse and allowing commercial considerations to run ahead of what
is environmentally best for the city and the region.

“We need a regional waste strategy which moves Sheffield and surrounding
towns towards less landfill and more reduction, re-use and recycling. We are
stuck with with the Lib Dem’s decision to commit us to a £40m new incinerator
and a 30 year contract with Veolia. But this application gives no guarantee
that any extra profits from burning other people’s waste will be used to fund
more environmentally friendly measures”

ENDS.