Craig Williams, Welsh Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire, has spoken in a Westminster Hall Debate on incineration and recycling, referring to the potential large scale Waste Incinerator at Buttington Quarry near Trewern and its impact on the local area.
Welcoming Craig Williams’ contribution to the debate, County Councillor Amanda Jenner, who represents the Trewern Ward said:
“I’m really pleased that Craig Williams MP has spoken in this debate, highlighting the impact of a potential large scale incinerator within a rural community, not far from a primary school. With a potential planning application consultation starting within weeks, my residents are rightly concerned about whether all people will be able to fully engage with such a sensitive and emotive consultation during the ongoing pandemic. I was particularly glad to hear Craig raise this point.”
Commenting on the debate, Craig Williams added:
“I was very pleased to be able to speak in the debate and have the opportunity to raise the concerns of residents in Trewern and Buttington about the planned development for an incinerator. I echo the concerns highlighted by Cllr Amanda Jenner, and pay tribute to her and the Buttington Incinerator Impact Group’s efforts to ensure there is proper consideration of any major planning applications – such as the substantial incinerator that is being proposed in Buttington – during this ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.”
Turning to the impact of incineration, Craig Williams said:
“With research carried out by WRAP Cymru finding that 75% of the ‘ingredients’ for incinerators in Wales could have been recycled, I believe it is vital that we further explore methods of storing non-recyclables that can then be mined when the technology becomes available to recycle it. The Welsh Government’s recycling target of achieving 70% by 2025 is laudably ambitious, and in Montgomeryshire Powys County Council is doing a terrific job of ensuring their targets are being met. It would be of great concern therefore if recycling rates in Wales are impacted by an increase of incinerators; particularly when communities such as Buttington see applications for large incinerators in very rural areas, which will require huge HGV movements across a large area of Wales and England.”
“Montgomeryshire is 840 square miles with a population 50,000 people. That does not lend itself to a huge industrial incinerator with waste transported on our struggling trunk roads.”
Councillor Amanda Jenner added:
“With the UK Government rightly committing to cut greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050, the environmental impact of incinerators needs due consideration – burning waste produces CO2 and adds to greenhouse gas emissions. I have raised such concerns with Senedd colleagues and I also have a petition on the development of more incinerators currently being considered by the Welsh Parliament Petitions Committee. It is good news that the impact of incinerators are being debated in Westminster, however, I would also like to see this issue debated fully here in Wales, given that the waste economy is devolved to the Welsh Government.
“As I have said before, it is important that the Welsh Government takes the time to look at our waste strategy as a whole in order to ensure that waste is dealt with strategically and in the most environmentally conscious ways as possible. As we move towards a circular economy (producing less waste year on year), this should reduce the need for any increase in the capacity of waste incineration in Wales.”
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