Campaigners are calling for North London residents to voice their concerns about the replacement of the Edmonton incinerator.
Lets Talk Rubbish, a group of local volunteers, has launched the North London Zero Waste Survey to present locals’ opinions to councillors ahead of the elections on 5 May.
The Edmonton Incinerator in Enfield burns about 500,000 tonnes of rubbish a year, including Islington’s waste. It is the oldest operating incinerator in the UK, and is scheduled to be replaced in 2025. In December last year the North London Waste Authority, which runs the incinerator, contracted a Spanish firm to build a new plant.
Opponents of the new incinerator are concerned about the environmental impact of CO2 emissions.
In 2021, 64% of London’s waste was burned rather than recycled. Supporters of incinerating waste say we lack the the facilities to recycle all plastics, and this is, therefore, a sustainable option. According to Lets Talk Rubbish, Islington Council spends £5.1 million on incineration, but only £2.1 million on recycling.
The survey asks Islington to speak out on the controversial Edmonton Incinerator, in addition to asking residents about their recycling habits.
One question asks: “Are you concerned about the air pollution and climate change impacts of the incineration of our rubbish?”
Likewise, the survey draws attention to the ethnically diverse background of Edmonton’s population, 60% of whose residents are from diverse backgrounds, as well as the areas socioeconomic deprivation. “Do you see the decision to choose to rebuild the incinerator in Edmonton as a case of environmental racism?”, the survey asks.
Public Health England states that “it is not possible to rule out health effects from modern incinerators completely” for people living near air-polluting incinerator chimneys.
The confidential and anonymous survey is for residents in Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, and Waltham Forest.
