27/1/2009

Wales can no longer see waste as something simply to bury and forget - it is a resource that can be used to heat our homes and public buildings.

That was the message today as a £7.8 million boost to create a “next generation� environmentally-friendly recycling plant in South East Wales to generate energy from waste was announced.

But Friends of the Earth Cymru said it could mean a massive, over-sized incinerator coming to south east Wales.

Environment Minister Jane Davidson said the funding will help get Prosiect Gwyrdd started.

The Project is a joint initiative between five South Wales councils which will look at the best way to dispose of municipal waste that can’t be recycled or composted. The extra funding for Prosiect Gwyrdd will be up to £7.8m in a full year of operation depending on the final costs of the project.

Ms Davidson said , “We need new collection services and new infrastructure to use waste in the best possible way and stop dumping in landfill. The extra Assembly Government funding opens the way for Prosiect Gwyrdd to move forwards so we can make the most of our resources by producing much needed energy.

“It will also mean investment in jobs as this new plant is constructed and people employed to work and run it, providing local employment.

“This significant investment means Wales can continue to lead the waste and recycling agenda. Continuing to landfill is not affordable, financially or environmentally.

“We must recycle or compost as much waste as possible and maximise the benefits of the renewable energy that can be produced from source separated food waste and treatment of residual waste.

“We will be working with local authority consortia across Wales to develop similar facilities in other areas to deal with residual waste and these important projects will also attract a similar level of support to ensure they proceed quickly and help us to meet future EU waste diversion targets.

“We can no longer see waste as something simply to bury and forget it is a resource that can be used to heat our homes and public buildings.�

Friends of the Earth Cymru campaigner, Haf Elgar, said: "There's a danger that the so-called 'Prosiect Gwyrdd' could become Project Greenwash.

"This public money looks set to pay for a massive, over-sized incinerator to come to south east Wales.

"Incineration is not green. It might produce energy, but it's inefficient, and possibly even worse for the environment than landfill. A recent study has shown that incineration emits more greenhouse gas than any other waste disposal option.

"Incineration hits recycling rates, produces hazardous waste, and large plants demanding waste from across the region mean hundreds more lorries on the roads every day.

"And in these changing times, councils signing up to 25 year contracts of producing
waste is just bad business sense.

"There is much the Assembly Government can do to help councils with their waste management. But sponsoring these polluting monsters should be no part of it."