Government "Green Light" for Bredbury Incinerator - Stunell

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 21st Oct 2003

Local MP Andrew Stunell is backing an urgent warning by Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee that the Government's waste reduction strategy is failing. The Government today accepted their findings but have rejected calls from MPs to block a new generation of incinerators.

Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority has plans to build 5 incinerators, including 1 in Bredbury. These have been put on the back burner for the past two years because of a highly successful campaign to increase recycling in Stockport.

Andrew Stunell said:

"The Government is re-opening the door to an incinerator in Bredbury at a time when Stockport's recycling schemes are really taking off. Ministers are not giving councils the support they need make recycling and waste reduction an affordable alternative to landfill. This is a real stab in the back from the Government."

Mr Stunell commented that, "The Government has been warned repeatedly that its waste strategy is pushing local councils towards a policy of incineration. Their message should be 'reduce, reuse and recycle', but their policies are telling people to 'bin it, burn it or bury it'."

ENDS