North London environmental justice coalition ‘Stop the Edmonton Incinerator Now’ (StEIN) has written to Michael Gove, Secretary of State for the Department of Levelling Up, in a 10-page letter, regarding concerns about the planned Edmonton incinerator.
The coalition includes Black Lives Matter, Extinction Rebellion, trade unions and other groups and individuals, with its letter following the Islington Tribune’s report that Gove had decided to investigate NLWA’s accounts.
In it, the coalition welcomes the Secretary of State’s decision to determine whether the waste authority’s plans for the Edmonton incinerator ‘represent value for money’, asserting that Gove must act to prevent ‘damage’.
The coalition raises several concerns, including issues related to the £800 million Edmonton incinerator contract, and issues related to audit firm Mazars’ review of NLWA accounts.
StEIN’s letter also refers to the UK Municipal Bonds Agency’s (UKMBA) intention to issue a green bond to fund the facility’s construction, labelling NLWA’s communications campaign as ‘reckless misinformation’, which could ‘damage both the credibility of UKMBA and investor confidence in bonds’.
Carina Millstone, founder of the StEIN coalition, said: “We expect Secretary Gove’s investigators to scrutinise all the issues we’ve raised.
“This AGM will be watched closely, not only by North London politicians, residents, and waste sector experts who oppose current plans for the Edmonton incinerator, but undoubtedly also by Gove and his team of investigators."
Get our weekly digest
resource.co article ai
How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.