AN incinerator is set to be constructed in the heart of York tonight, by the city's environmentalists.

But, no, the Greens have not abandoned their eco-friendly principles. The move is a political stunt, to protest against the idea of burning refuse.

York Residents Against Incineration (YRAIN) say they plan to "smoke out" councillors who still believe that burning waste is an acceptable way to dispose of it.

They will put up a 7ft tall model incinerator outside York's Guildhall before tonight's full meeting of City of York Council, to remind councillors of the noxious effect of waste incineration.

At the meeting, Green Party councillor Andy D'Agorne will then propose a motion to oppose any form of incineration of York's municipal waste.

Dave Taylor, spokesperson for YRAIN, said: "We've challenged City of York Council to increase recycling rates and, to be fair, it has improved greatly on what the Labour administration was prepared to do previously.

"York residents have been brilliant in pushing the rates of recycling higher and we can still do more. However, no one can recycle waste if it's been burnt in an incinerator.

"In Sheffield, where there is an incinerator, recycling has gone up in smoke. There is only monthly kerbside paper and card collection - no plastic at all because they need the plastic and paper to burn.

"YRAIN intend to smoke out the councillors who still cling to this inferior incineration scheme and to find out where in North Yorkshire they would choose to despoil by building one?"

The council's executive member for neighbourhood services, Andrew Waller, said: "We will be laying down an amendment to the motion, re-affirming the council's preferred option as mechanical, biological treatment.

"It is the Liberal Democrats who have been pursuing the non-incinerator option."

He said: "We have demonstrated that we want to maximise recycling. And we want to use much more of the landfill tax money that has been siphoned off from York to promote services in the city."

Coun D'Agorne said: "The Green Party supports the promises made by the Lib Dems to increase the proportion of waste that we recycle to over 50 per cent and we have proposed trials of communal collections for people in flats. However, the local Lib Dems are failing to support their national party position with regard to incineration."

As previously reported in The Press, Coun Waller is tabling a separate motion tonight, calling on the Government to return the money York pays in landfill tax.


Coun Andy D'Agorne's motion

"This council confirms its opposition to any form of incineration of York's municipal waste. Key concerns include:1. The effect of emissions on human health and the environment;2. The fact that incineration contracts with private companies create a demand for waste This detracts from the objective to reduce the amount of waste that is produced, and the secondary objective to recycle as large a proportion of the remainder as is possible and efficient in terms of environmental impact.

The council also opposes any other form of treatment involving burning (such as forms of mechanical biological treatment that produce refuse derived fuel for burning), as the concerns expressed above apply in each case.

This council notes the significant achievements of the city in increasing recycling, through the work of the council and community groups such as the Friends of St. Nicholas Fields and the York Recycling Network. The council will support the work of such groups wherever possible.

The council notes that measures on waste reduction are almost always more financially efficient than the construction of large treatment facilities, and that recycling creates more jobs than incineration.

The council further notes that as recycling rates increase around the country, incineration is falling further out of favour. Norwich City Council has recently confirmed its opposition to incineration, joining the councils of Essex, Lancashire, Bath and Milton Keynes, among others. Furthermore, this council calls upon the Government to introduce legislation to reduce waste at source by strict regulation and taxes on packaging."