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County Council has received at least 1700 objections to incineration, campaigners say

Oxford Friends of the Earth estimate that Oxfordshire County Council has received at least 1,700 objections to the use of incineration in Oxfordshire's future municipal waste strategy (2010-2035). The Council has received objections in the form of 'no-incineration' postcards, signatures on petitions, and letters of objection.

In January 2005 Oxford Friends of the Earth presented a petition with about 600 signatures on it to Councillor Anne Purse, the then Executive member for sustainable development . In December 2005, campaigners including one dressed as Santa, presented an online petition of about 100
names, and many no-incineration postcards to Councillor Roger Belson, the cabinet member for sustainability. In February 2006, in a email from Council officer Jane Rider to Councillor Sushila Dhall, the Council officer said the Council had received just under 1,000 no-incineration
postcards (600 of which where addressed to Councillor Anne Purse).

Andrew Wood of Oxford Friends of the Earth said: "“It's time the County Council admitted burning millions of tonnes of the Oxfordshire's disguarded resources, which we call household waste, is a rubbish idea. It is far more energy efficient to recycle materials than to make them anew each time and burn them in an incinerator, including one fitted with some form of electricity generation. The toxic ash, pollution and long contracts mean incineration is the worst possible way to treat
Oxfordshire's waste.”"

According to documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, the County Council may have already chosen its preferred waste treatment. For the City and District Council's in Oxfordshire then a joint municipal waste strategy should be agreed by the end of April. The decision making comes immediately before the local elections in May 2006. The strategy may mean changes to recycling and refuse collection in all the districts throughout Oxforshire, including districts in the south of the County. For example, the new strategy may mean alternative bi-weekly collections of refuse and recycling as happens in Cherwell District, and as is proposed for Oxford City, throughout the County.

Andrew Wood continued:
"“We should adopt a strategy that allows progressive improvements in recycling and composting to quickly reach the best continental European levels , ideally aspiring to zero waste. Which of the district councils in Oxfordshire, who are the local planning authorities, will welcome an
incinerator in its backyard? Voters in the May council elections may want this question answered by their local election candidates.”"

• OxFoE Waste Campaign homepage