CHASE Press Release - 13 February, 2007
MEPs REJECT PRO-INCINERATOR AMENDMENTS in EU PARLIAMENT VOTE TODAY
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In a significant vote today in the European Parliament, MEP’s rejected pro-incinerator amendments to the Waste Framework Directive which proposed to reclassify incinerators from a disposal to a recovery operation.

· Amendment no. 83 to the Waste Framework Directive, which proposed to keep incinerators classified as waste disposal was passed by a majority of 384 to 299 MEP’s.

· Amendments (no.’s 116, 133, 135), which proposed the reclassification of Incinerators as recovery were not accepted

· Today’s vote is consistent with an earlier European Court of Justice ruling (case C-458/00) that classifies dedicated municipal waste incinerators as disposal operations with a side effect of energy production.

A Spokesperson for CHASE said “It is very good news that despite heavy lobbying from incinerator industry body Eurits, and Waste-to-Energy Confederation CEWEP, MEP’s have voted for the environment, and recognised that waste is not an efficient fuel.

Burning waste creates high CO2 emissions for a low electricity output. It emits more CO2 than recycling, creates health problems and diverts waste from recycling. The EU today took steps towards its stated objective of becoming a sustainable society and we are very grateful to the majority of MEP’s who recognised this.”

ENDS
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For further information:

Linda FitzPatrick, 021 4374506 087 7410849
Mary Hurley, 021 4813070 086 8162448