Neath Port Talbot’s £32m waste incinerator has ceased operations after having its environmental permit suspended due to two separate breaches of accepted dioxin emissions levels.
Test results from the Environment Agency (EA) found the Crymlyn Burrows incinerator – operated by Neath Port Talbot (Recycling) Ltd, a subsidiary of Neath Port Talbot council – found that the site had exceeded the permitted limit for dioxin emissions on two occasions.
Dioxins, which can be formed through combustion, can have harmful effects on human health, such as increasing cancer rates, if they enter the food chain. Dioxins are considered ‘safe’ up to a level of 0.1 nanogrammes per cubic metre (ng/m3), and treated incinerator flue gas normally contains just 0.02 or 0.03 ng/m3 of dioxins.
The plant, which opened in 2002 and processes household waste for recycling and incineration from Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend, is said to be ‘co-operating fully’ with the Environment Agency and has agreed to halt all operations until the cause of the breaches has been established.
The investigation follows a formal caution from the EA last year, after the site was found to be producing more than the accepted level of emissions in 2010.
Cleaning work has now begun on a section of the plant, which is thought to be responsible for the breach.
Speaking about the EA investigations yesterday (4 December), Huw Brunt from the Public Health Wales said: “Raised levels of dioxin emissions over a short time period are unlikely to pose an appreciable health risk to the local population.
“However, a number of breaches of the dioxin emission limit have been reported at this site over the past couple of years. This recurring problem raises associated public health concerns and we would like to see this situation resolved as soon as possible.”
Steve Brown, Area Manager for Environment Agency Wales, added: “Environmental permits are there to make sure that local people and the environment are protected from the impact of sites like these.
“They have strict conditions and emission controls which we will enforce. The operator is complying fully with our investigation. We will make sure they do all that they can to rectify this problem as a matter of urgency and we will consider taking further action if it is appropriate.”
Evidence is now being collected by the EA as part of the investigation and will be used to decide whether any further action should be taken against the site operators.
It is expected that the plant will not be ‘routinely operating’ until the company can demonstrate it is in compliance with its environmental permit.
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