It is not just Cardiff, or even just South Wales, communities that will be adversely affected by the incinerator if Viridor's planning application is approved – communities in Cheltenham are concerned about the impact of the toxic fly ash from the Cardiff incinerator which will be dumped within 0.5km of some homes.
Various separators are used in the chimneys of incinerators to try and prevent the release of harmful particulates and dioxins. These separators trap 'fly ash' which is classed as hazardous waste because it is strongly alkaline and also high in dioxins and heavy metals.
Viridor's incinerator would produce more than 17,500tonnes (5-7% of incinerated waste) of this fly ash every year which is to be transported and dumped in the Bishop's Cleeve hazardous waste disposal site.
The residents here, who see ash literally blowing around, are hugely concerned about the health impacts of incinerator fly ash being disposed of in their communities – they have formed a group SWARD (Safety in Waste and Rubbish Disposal) to campaign against incineration.
Friends of the Earth Cardiff hope that SWARD will be able to join us at the PACT community meeting in Splott on the 7th February to put their concerns to Viridor.