Perth planners recommend approval of gasification incinerator at Binn Farm, 19 October 2011

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A new report by the Development Quality Manager, henceforth the 'planning report' (click here) has recommended approval for the application by SITA UK to build a waste gasification incinerator at Binn Farm, Glenfarg, in spite of a major community just two miles downwind (Abernethy). 

The report states:

"An Environmental Impact Assessment has been submitted and has confirmed that there will be no adverse impacts as a result of the proposal."

It is perhaps unsurprising that the Environmental Impact Assessment, written by the developers (SITA UK) claims there will be no adverse impacts. The question is, is this true?

As yet there is not a single waste gasification plant in the UK that has been proved to be operating consistently within emission limits. The Isle of Wight gasifier, built in 2008, was closed for most of 2010 due to excessive dioxin emissions. Dioxins are only measured twice a year, despite being some of the most carcinogenic chemicals known to man.

Other plants in Dumfries and Iceland have had chronic problems with successful operation, including breaching emission limits. A report published earlier this month by the Department of Energy & Climate Change in October 2011 describes gasification as: 

“. . . emerging and unproven technologies for the treatment of waste biomass and mixed municipal waste where there are number of technical issues to resolve, for example, achieving intended throughput and air emission standards.” [1]

The planning report acknowledges that the proposal differs from the Local Plan for the area, as the technologies involved did not exist when it was written. In fact there is no mention of any type of waste incinerator in the Local Plan. 

The planning report says that the proposal is in line with the Structure Plan (the overarching planning policy document for Perth and Kinross). However the Structure Plan makes no mention of building any new waste incinerators. Furthermore it states that new waste management facilities will only be supported where they "Avoid air, noise, land, surface water and groundwater pollution" (p55). There is no evidence to support the developer's claim that the proposed plant will meet this requirement.

Clearly the proposal is significantly contrary to the development plan, and therefore the final decision must be made on the application by the full council. 

[1] Department of Energy & Climate Change, Consultation on proposals for the levels of banded support under the Renewables Obligation for the period 2013-17 and the Renewables Obligation Order 2012, s12.2 - http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/ro-banding/3235-consultation-ro-banding.pdf