Gazette Postbag,

Dear Editor,

Colchester council objected to the county waste strategy for two massive MBT plants at Rivenhall and Basildon. These shred 'black bag' waste and turn it into polluting fuel pellets to burn in an incinerator at Rivenhall - or it could be on any of the sites, including Stanway.

It is extraordinary how all Conservative county councillors - in a named vote at the recent county council meeting - supported these waste plants and bid to Government for PFI (Private Finance Initiative) finance. What happened to Lord Hanningfield's 'no incineration' pledges and promise of a referendum if incineration was proposed?

Costs would average £2million to each council and £4billion to Essex taxpayers for 28.5 year contracts. Hundreds of HGVs daily, recyclable and compostable resources destroyed and burnt, creating toxic emissions, climate change gases and toxic ash!

LibDem and Labour councillors voted against, calling for local baling and composting, high recycling, aiming at Zero Waste! Top UK councils already recycle up to 60%.

The article (G 21/7) 'Council caution over waste plans' seemed at odds with Colchester's objection to the waste strategy. They had said they were pulling out of the PFI bid. What is in it to keep Colchester 'at the table' until it has been given the go-ahead in October?

The strategy includes three wheelie bins per home - which Colchester has pledged not to have. The PFI bid includes a central 'MRF' at Rivenhall and Basildon to mechanically sort mixed recyclables compacted in HGVs. Materials become contaminated.

New Government-funded research shows it is better and far cheaper to have separated kerbside collections, sorted at the kerb. Our UK paper, glass, aluminium and plastic reprocessors strongly support this for clean valuable materials for recycling.

PFI bids require support of all the councils and 'broad public support'. Please write to the Minister, Joan Ruddock, via your MP, if you do not support the PFI bid and these plans!

Yours sincerely,

Paula Whitney, Co-ordinator,
Colchester & NE Essex Friends of the Earth,
4 Shears Crescent, West Mersea, Essex.