Health Protection Agency study

Posted 26 Jan 2012

Viridor has commented on an announcement by the UK Health Protection Agency to extend their evidence base in further examining the relationship between municipal waste incinerators and human health.

Dan Cooke, Viridor’s External Affairs Manager, said:

“The science on this issue is reassuring.  As the Health Protection Agency made clear in 2011 and has again restated, modern, well run and regulated energy from waste facilities make only a small contribution to local concentrations of air pollutants and therefore do not pose a significant risk to human health.

“With energy from waste a key component of UK sustainable waste management, it is right to both continually assess evidence-based research from around the globe in addition to refreshing UK studies to offer further reassurance to government, regulators and communities.  The scientific basis of this proposed project is sensible and Viridor is fully supportive of such robust studies.

“UK waste policies clearly identify the need for essential new recycling and recovery infrastructure and waste planning policy continues to recognise this need.  The proposed research should therefore have no impact on development proposals across the UK.

Links

• Health Protection Agency Press Release
• Health Protection Agency Position Statement on Municipal Solid Waste Incineration

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