Re: Report-Sweden Should Increase Incin.

[Alan Watson <alanwatson@gn.apc.org>]

Neil posted the following:

>STOCKHOLM, Sweden, December 6, 1999 (ENS) - Sweden's waste
>packaging recycling policy is "exceedingly inefficient" and should be
>replaced by policies encouraging more incineration and landfilling of
>waste, according to a new report for the Swedish Finance Ministry.

Quite timely, for this list, therefore that Greenpeace Sweden should 
publish their dioxin report the next day:

-------------------------
Greenpeace Sweden sounds alarm on dioxins
ENDS Daily - 06/12/99
-------------------------
Dioxin levels in ashes from Sweden's waste incinerators are
"many times" official estimates, undermining claims of a
substantial cut in total national emissions in the past 20
years, Greenpeace Sweden says in a report published today.
Compiled using data from scientists, waste-handling
companies and public authorities, the report calculates the
national dioxin content of incineration ashes at between 18
and 216 grams per year, with a "median estimate" of 114g.
According to the Swedish environmental protection agency
(EPA), emissions in ashes now represent just 5% of total
Swedish dioxin emissions, which it puts at 5g.  Until now,
the EPA has concentrated on cutting emissions to air, by
introducing better incineration techniques and filtering of
stack gases.  But by analysing ash from several incinerators
and comparing figures from Denmark and Austria, Greenpeace
concludes the official figures are a "gross
underestimation".  "The more we clean the air from dioxins
the more dioxins we will have in the mountains of residues,"
Greenpeace claims.  "We are moving our present pollution to
the future."  Moreover, a ban in Sweden on landfilling
combustible waste that takes effect in 2002 will increase
the amount of chlorinated plastics and food - the two prime
sources of dioxin - going for incineration.  If the
government is to achieve its target of stabilising dioxin at
"natural" levels by 2020, a phase-out of incineration in
favour of recycling and waste reduction is imperative,
Greenpeace says.

Contacts:  Greenpeace Sweden (http://www.greenpeace.se),
tel: +46 8 702 7074.


........................................................
 Alan Watson C.Eng
 Public Interest Consultants                  
 Oakleigh                      
 Wernffrwd                            
 Gower                                 
 Swansea   SA4 3TY                 
 UK                                    
 Tel: 01792 851599                   
 Fax: 01792 850056                     
 ........................................................