The product of combustion will be predominantly carbon dioxide, of which the earth has too much — hence global warming, heat and hence more global warming, and nasties (eg dioxins) which nobody in their right mind would want to breathe.
On the other hand, burying plastics, whilst not ideal, does at least trap the carbon they contain underground and prevent further atmospheric damage.
It seems to me however that the real problem still needs to be addressed because we, as a nation, persist in producing far too much unnecessary waste in the first place. The focus should be on reduction of waste generation, and effective recycling. Why for example, do we recycle plastic bottles with the code one or two in the recycle symbol, but not the bottle tops, which are the same plastic? It doesn’t make sense, but burning it doesn’t make sense either.
I support the efforts of the Invergordon community not to have an incinerator in their town. There is too much good work being put into reviving the fortunes of this run down town to send it up in smoke. The Councillors on the planning committee had the good sense to see that the Tesco proposal for Tain was in the wrong place. Let’s hope they have similar sense this time and see that the Highlands is the wrong place for an incinerator.
Richard Cross
Nigg
