13 February 2007 - Euro-MPs in Strasbourg today roundly rejected proposals to ‘re-brand’ waste incineration as an environmentally-friendly alternative to landfill.

The revision of the EU’s Waste Framework Directive, which establishes a hierarchy of techniques with reduction, reuse and recycling as preferable to burial or incineration, was adopted with a massive majority: 647 votes in favour and just 21 against with 19 abstentions.

Green MEP Caroline Lucas, the group’s ‘shadow rapporteur’ on the proposals, said:

“Today’s vote is great news for the environment as it clearly establishes the principle that we must reduce the amount of waste we produce – in line with the Green Party’s commitment to adopting a ‘zero-waste’ strategy, as has been successfully implemented in parts of Canada and Australia – and places reuse and recycling at the heart of strategies for dealing with the ever-worsening waste crisis we face.

“The root of the waste problem is clearly ever-increasing waste generation: the average European is responsible for 534 kilos of household waste per year. We welcome the call by MEPs for the stabilisation of the levels of waste generation by 2012, based on 2008 levels. Reducing our waste must be the ultimate goal and it is crucial that we   start to stem the amount of waste we generate.

"The decision by MEPs to reject an amendment which would have reclassified waste incineration is an important step for the environment too: re-branding incineration as a means of recovery rather than waste disposal could create the impression that burning our rubbish is environmentally-friendly, which it clearly is not. “

Dr Lucas, Euro-MP for South-East England , added : “All waste that can be reused or recycled should be and MEPs have underlined that this must be the focus of waste management in the EU. We clearly need strict standards to ensure the utmost efficiency of those incinerators that do exist but incineration must only be considered as one of the last options for disposing of the remaining waste."

ENDS