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Waste-burning approved despite row
View from Sheffield Cathedral,looking towards Bernard Road incinerator
COUNCILLORS have rubber-stamped plans to allow 50,000 tonnes of waste from Barnsley, Rotherham and Chesterfield to be burned in Sheffield every year.
The Bernard Road incinerator, which faced fierce opposition when it was first opened in 2006, burns 225,000 tonnes of household waste annually.
Bosses at Veolia Environmental Services, which runs the £45 million plant, told the council’s city centre, south and east planning board that Sheffield residents do not now generate enough rubbish for the facility because they have started recycling more.
According to the terms of the facility’s original planning permission, Veolia could accept only 10 per cent of its rubbish from Rotherham and North East Derbyshire councils.
Last night the council granted permission for Veolia to increase what it takes from other authorities to 22 per cent.
That will enable the plant to burn waste from Barnsley and Chesterfield as well.
The application had been opposed by 22 people, including representatives of the Green Party and the campaign group Sheffield Friends of the Earth.
They complained bigger vehicles would be needed to bring in the rubbish, meaning worse pollution.
Green Coun Jillian Creasy said Veolia should try to make up the shortfall by sourcing commercial and industrial waste within the city, rather than going further afield for household waste.
Officers said commercial waste was very difficult to obtain. Nigel Williams, Sheffield director of Veolia, said: “If this waste didn’t come to this city it would go into landfill.”
Coun Peter Price, voting for the application, said: “We dismiss this option at our peril.
“This facility heats 164 buildings, including Ponds Forge, the library and the town hall and it generates electricity for more than 20,000 homes. As oil prices go up these kinds of facility are going to be a bigger part of the solution.”
The 10 board members voted unanimously to approve the conditions for six years. After that time neighbouring authorities should have built their own incinerators.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Sir Taxedalot
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 07:53 PM“If this waste didn’t come to this city it would go into landfill.” Not true Mr Veolia because Chesterfield are building their own incinerator. How is that rubbish going get from Chesterfield to Sheffield? Through Woodseats by any chance? I think it's a disgrace that councillors are prepared to give Veolia a leg up in profits at the expense of yet more traffic trundling through one of the city's busiest routes. Then they'll be wondering why pollution is bad. Muppets the lot of them. But Woodseats is not a Labour favoured area is it?
parkwood
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 02:39 PMThat incinerator is handy for keeping warm palms, where's the waste from it to go, certainly not anywhere near our councillors homes. Shove the Shite in Sheffield, should be the council logo.
Zap
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 11:20 AM@Blue Stratos - if we don't reach our targets the govt will fine us but its a good point why recycle just for Peter to feed his incinerator?
Zap
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 11:19 AMIs this the same Peter Price who is always going on about air pollution and its ill effects on people in the area he represents - oops thats before he was re-elected now he's got their votes he doesn't care one jot - hypocrit Its time he retired, after all he's stuck in the 70's
ISeeEverything
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 11:01 AMWhat happens in six years time. Does anyone know?
Blue-Stratos
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 10:47 AMIf we are taking other Towns rubbish which has not been recycled. Why dont we just burn ours if Councillor Price feels strongly about burning rubbish. Why on earth are we recycling our rubbish if the Sheffield Labout Council just want to burn it, whats the point.
Tawny
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 10:03 AMHow long before we gat the tree huggers on here complaining? . . . Just one question for them, if it is not burnt then where is it to go? . . . I know lets just dig yet more big holes, destroying all the trees you so love, and bury it.
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