The Burning Question: How Safe Are Waste Incinerators?

Considered one of the greatest environmental risks to health, air pollution is laden with fine particulate matter that causes cardiovascular and respiratory disease, cancers, and substantial mortality.

Cleaning up our air demands concerted action by local, national, and international level policy makers. 

A 2023 briefing from the United Kingdom Without Incineration Network (UKWIN) examined claims and assumptions about the health impacts of ‘Energy from Waste’ incinerators, in particular their emissions: volatile gases that escape to the local environment.

In the briefing, UKWIN fact-checked  claims made by the Environment Agency (EA), UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the UK Government and others. Several alarming messages emerge.

The EA has granted permits even when applications predicted large contributions to local air pollution. It also doesn't require pollution-reducing infrastructure like higher stacks or catalytic converters, allowing operators to cut costs.

Incinerator impacts are obscured by outdated air quality thresholds and the EA's reliance on operators to self-report emissions. EA inspections are usually pre-arranged, raising concerns about site preparation.

Important research has been disregarded, including studies on incinerator health risks and evidence showing harm at much lower pollution levels than previously understood.

Computer modelling estimating incinerator impacts is complex and uncertain due to numerous assumptions. Many values are based on typical (not protective) levels, and cumulative uncertainty isn't quantified. Actual pollution levels and health risks may be much higher than predicted.

The briefing concludes that UK air quality thresholds are insufficient to prevent significant harm. Thresholds can be exceeded, some pollutants have no safe level, and EA modelling isn't robust. Falsely denying incineration risks undermines public trust, stifles debate, blocks pollution reduction measures, harms public health, and increases societal costs.

True sustainability demands transitioning to a circular economy that eliminates waste by design, removing the need for incineration altogether.

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For more information contact: info@scarabtrust.org.uk

Images

Factory pollution ships - Image by Chris Leboutillier (ST ref: 1210)

Quote: World Health Organisation: Ambient (outdoor) air pollution 24 October 2024

Fire, Flames, Fire wood Image by Alexa from Pixabay (ST ref 1330)