In an article entitled Audit Commission links incineration to low recycling, written by Chris Sloley and published on the LetsRecycle website, we learn of the existence of a Quick Guide to Waste Management produced in August 2007 by the Audit Commission.

As described by Sloley:

The document is written in an easy-to-read style for use by Audit Commission staff and was not meant to be seen outside of the Commission…It was issued in August 2007 to Audit Commission inspectors working with local authorities to give an overview of waste management and recycling practices, describes waste management as “not rocket science”.

…incineration is identified as a “contentious area” in the Audit Commission guidance. Although it is accepted as “better” than landfill, the document states that “burning mixed was is no longer really sensible practice”.

And, raising questions over the use of incineration alongside other disposal methods, the Audit Commission claims a detrimental link between council recycling performances and the use of incineration as a disposal route. It states: “For a long time, councils with incinerators have had poor recycling rates”.

According to the Audit Commission website:

The Audit Commission is an independent watchdog, driving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in local public services to deliver better outcomes for everyone. Our work across local government, health, housing, community safety and fire and rescue services means that we have a unique perspective. We promote value for money for taxpayers, auditing the £200 billion spent by 11,000 local public bodies.

Our powers and responsibilities, and those of the auditors we appoint, are set out in Acts of Parliament, including the Audit Commission Act 1998 and the Local Government Act 1999. These laws give us responsibilities in relation to auditing, assessment, studies and comparing information, and also give us the power to get the information we need to support this. We use this information in different ways, to help public organisations use their money well and to improve services.

[The guide] states that incinerators “need a regular supply of waste” and claims: “The importance is not to embark on [an] arrangement that will prevent another [treatment method] taking place. Incineration has typically been a culprit in this – the contractor requires, say, 100,000 tonnes of waste a year to operate the incinerator. This is the big difference between incinerators and other treatments.”