Incinerator law threatens farmers

23 March 2000



Incinerator law ‘threatens farmers’

By FWi staff+

AGRICULTURE minister Nick Brown has been warned that a new European directive restricting the output from incinerators could destroy rural businesses.

The Waste Incineration Directive, which received its second reading in the European Parliament on 15 March, aims to reduce pollution.

But the Countryside Alliance believes it will have the opposite effect.

It has written to Mr Brown claiming incinerators have been installed by many farmers and other businesses to comply with BSE rules and other legislation.

The cost of making these businesses compliant with the regulations has been estimated by the government at between 200-300,000.

Alliance chief executive Richard Burge said the net effective of the directive could be to increase pollution.

“Many farmers may be forced to bury or otherwise dispose of this waste, with serious environmental consequences,” he said.

The measure will have to be approved by the European Council of Ministers before it comes into force.