Archive for May 2009
Why six Britons went to eco war
When six activists, protesting against climate pollution, scaled a tower at a coal-fired power station in 2007 the resulting court case drew support from the world’s leading scientists. Their subsequent acquittal proved historic and changed government policy. Here, the ‘Kingsnorth Six’ tell their story [includes 20 minutes film] Continue Reading “Some links of interest…” »
Waste statistician Keith Kondakor has analysed the latest available data and informed us of the following:
The Landfill tax data is in for March 2009. It shows the fall in landfilling is massive. Total landfilling in the year April 2008 to March 2009 is down 19.29% to 52.453 million tonnes (from 64,989,000 the year before). Standard rate landfilling is down 14.81% and low rate is down 38.12%.
Quarterly data shows an even bigger drop of 33.14% overall with standard rate landfilling down 26.25% and low rate down -62.41%. Monthly statistics are not reliable, as landfills report once every 3 months.
LetsRecycle is reporting that Defra’s head of waste strategy, Daniel Instone, said that there was “no obvious reason” why local authorities couldn’t charge for waste disposal from those groups [e.g. hospitals and prisons]. Regarding the current review, he added: “It will take as long as it takes, but from Defra’s point of view, we’re pushing it forward as fast as we can.”
The article also focusses on the Waste Framework Directive, saying:
Mr Instone…provided..an update on the government’s approach to transposing the revised EU Waste Framework Directive into UK law – a process which is expected to be completed by December 12 2010. He confirmed that the UK’s interpretation of the Directive was that both commingled and source-separated collections would have a place, explaining that: “We have said that both kerbside sort and commingled are acceptable as types of separation.” This comes after the Directive appeared to favour the use of source-separation after 2015. Mr Instone said that two consultations were now planned, one about “broad principles” was due “out soon” and one about “the details” to follow “afterwards”.
Jersey’s Save Our Shoreline (SOS) group has been active in raising the alarm over incinerator proposals for the island.
Save Our Shoreline have now submitted a substantive dossier to the Environment Scrutiny Panel containing strong and expert evidence that the Planning Consent for the ‘Energy from Waste’ plant is seriously flawed in several aspects. Continue Reading “Jersey sends out SOS” »
U.S. Labour Board Issues Complaint against Covanta Energy and all U.S. Subsidiaries
Braintree, Mass. – Utility Workers Union of America and its Local 369 announced today that the National Labor Relations Board in the U.S. issued a complaint this week charging Covanta Energy with violating labour law at 46 Covanta locations across the U.S. Continue Reading “Covanta charged with lawbreaking in the US” »
In an article entitled Incinerator made to wait the Friends of the Earth (FoE) website is reporting that FoE lawyers have forced plans for an incinerator in Hull onto the back burner… Continue Reading “Hull incinerator on hold thanks to FoE” »
With placards declaring Waste PFIs a waste of public money and a Policy Failure Incentive, a group of protesters representing waste campaign groups from throughout the country gathered in front of the Treasury as the Project Review Group arrived to decide the fate of several Waste PFI applications. Continue Reading “PFI Protest at Treasury” »
29,000 signature petition against 29,000 new car journeys per day
A petition has been started by residents’ associations, environmentalists, cyclists and other local groups in Camden, Brent and Barnet. It requests the Secretary of State for Local Government and Communities to ‘call in’ the Brent Cross Cricklewood development before it goes to Barnet Planning Committee, who are otherwise sure to wave it through in its current form.
According to campaigners:
The Brent Cross Cricklewood development is going to bring 29,000 extra car journeys per day* to our area – that’s 10 million per year.
In an e-mail message circulated to supporters, they say:
- The plans are for 7,500 new homes and 27,000 new jobs. Regeneration is welcome if done sustainably. Barnet Council will benefit financially from the new development, but the surrounding areas will pay the price in terms of traffic, noise, pollution, gridlock, an incinerator and a waste dump. Brent and Camden councils have both voted to reject the scheme in its current form, but despite being designated as a Regional Development, Barnet will vote to pass the plans in June.
- This area badly needs regeneration but there are elements of the plan that have significant impacts outside the Borough of Barnet: in particular 29,000 extra cars per day on the road, and the impact on local shopping and communities. A North West London Light Railway would mitigate some of these effects.
- We do not believe that Barnet Council has fully considered the proposals that in many instances do not contain sufficient detail for the Council to make an informed decision. However, there is a mechanism for Hazel Blears the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to ‘call in’ the plans for her consideration, thus taking the decision away from Barnet and triggering a public enquiry.
If you would like to see the Brent Cross Cricklewood plans be called in for scrutiny please:
1. SIGN – show that there is local opposition by signing this petition at http://www.petition.co.uk/campaign_for_a_sustainable_brent_cross_cricklewood_development , it takes 2 minutes, but do say which area you live in even though it’s not mandatory.
2. PASS IT ON – if you believe in local democracy, then please pass this email on to all your friends and neighbours in London…..we are aiming for 29,000 signatures
3. WRITE direct to Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and to Margaret Beckett MP, Minister for Planning asking for it to be called in. Contact them at hazel.blears@communities.gsi.gov.uk and margaret.beckett@communities.gsi.gov.uk respectively.
Copy to martha.mingay@london.gov.uk and BXCapplication@barnet.gov.uk
If you would like to copy and paste an example letter to personalise go to www.brentfoe.com, or simply forward parts of this email, adding your own views.
- There are many unsustainable aspects to these plans: transport , high-rise, density, environment, pollution, waste processing, recycling, incinerator, CO2, lack of renewable energy options such as solar panels, cycling provision, social inclusion, impact on local communities etc.
For more information go to
*www.barnet.gov.uk/developmentframeworkchapter_5.pdf
www.bettertransport.org.uk/london_local_group to see plans for the brilliant North West London Light Railway
www.brentfoe.com to see our submission to Barnet planners and more about our campaign on this issue
www.brentcrosscricklewood.com the developer’s website
Now please log on to the petition at http://www.petition.co.uk/campaign_for_a_sustainable_brent_cross_cricklewood_development and forward this to all your friends.
Many thanks for your support. Together we can make a difference!
Brent Cross Cricklewood Campaign Team at Brent Friends of the Earth
The Tockwith Residents Association has set up a website that enables visitors to object via e-mail.
Visit http://expertpc.org/saynotobcb.htm
This page has been provided to enable visitors to automatically submit an initial objection to the BCB Proposal by e-mail to North Yorkshire County Council.
Clicking on the link automatically creates an e-mail using your normal e-mail programme. This can then be completed, reviewed, edited and sent to North Yorkshire County Council.
A copy will also be sent to the Tockwith Residents Association, who will be submitting a highly detailed letter of objection.
By providing your name and address in the e-mail, you will be automatically notified by North Yorkshire County Council (by post) of all public hearings, which you are entitled to attend in person if you wish, as well as the outcome of the planning application.
Any details you supply to the Tockwith Residents Association (TRA) will not be used for any purpose other than for pursuing an objection to this planning application.
If you do not wish the TRA to join you to their objection, just delete them as a blind copy recipient of your objection e-mail.
Put pressure on European Ministers to support a Biowaste Directive
Visit the GAIA website to learn more about the Biowaste Directive, and download GAIA’s 9 page briefing entitled Getting it right to drive organics from landfills to material recycling. Continue Reading “GAIA calls for Biodirective action” »
