More time to have a say on incinerator waste bid
THE Environment Agency has extended the consultation period for residents to comment on waste firm Viridor’s bid to increase the amount of waste imported and burned at the Runcorn incinerator.
A spokeswoman for the EA told the Weekly News the deadline has now been put back to Friday, November 23, but that any submissions beyond that date, and before any final decision, will also be considered.
Consultation had been due to end on October 26 but that date has been scrapped.
Viridor has applied to Halton Borough Council to scrap the weight limit on rubbish it can import by road to the incinerator, also known as an energy-fromwaste plant, and instead retain the existing cap on the number of road deliveries, which it has so far fallen short of because the maximum amount of waste allowed has been condensed into a smaller number of lorries than expected.
It has also filed a separate request to the Environment Agency to vary its environmental permit and allow it to burn 1.1 million tonnes of waste.
Under its existing permit it is limited to 850,000 tonnes.
The firm has also applied for ● ‘minor variations’ in the emissions monitoring requirements.
The ongoing consultation relates to the Environment Agency application.
Some residents have slated the plans, accusing the plant of generating problems including bad smells, noise, dust and steam.
Viridor said it ‘works hard to be a responsible neighbour’ and has paid £2m to Halton Borough Council for ‘community schemes’.
Public responses to the consultation have been published as part of the application process, with residents lamenting shared grievances.
One person, who said they lived in Weston Point, said: “We object most strongly to more tonnage of waste coming to Weston Point. We already have noise, rubbish flying out of wagons, trains being emptied with banging at all times.
“You have trampled our opinions before, at least give us some hope you are listening now.”
To comment, visit consult. environment- agency. gov. uk online and search for ‘EPR/ RP3638CG/V005’.