There are currently 12 operating municipal waste incinerators in the UK,
of which Edmonton in North London is the biggest (with proposals to
increase capacity by 50%) and Sheffield the worst offender for breaching
pollution levels. The others are Dudley, Wolverhampton, Cleveland,
Coventry, Tyseley, Nottingham, Stoke and Lewisham (South London).
Incinerators in both Newcastle and the Isle of Wight are currently closed,
while plants in Dundee and Bolton have just reopened. 33 new
incinerators are under construction or in various stages of planning. (1)
The Environment Agency, whose duty it is to regulate the plants, are still
talking in terms of a hundred or more being built. (2) If this massive
expansion goes ahead it will undoubtedly affect the UK’s air quality. The
many toxic pollutants contained in the stack gases and ashes produced by
all incinerators will threaten the health and quality of life of millions of
people.