Incineration will affect the air quality of the Hobart airshed
Residents in Brighton/Bridgewater have formed TASMANIANS AGAINST INCINERATION. We oppose TEST Energy's proposed waste incinerator at Crooked Billet Drive where construction is planned for 2005.
TEST's emissions would be similar to that of a smelter, such as at Lutana, for sulphur oxides and particulate matter. TEST would produce nearly 5 times the amount of nitrogen oxides, 65 times the amount of carbon monoxide and nearly two and a half times as much mercury (to air). Such a smelter is of a scale which employs over 700 people, TEST will employ about 40.
Some councils have banned backyard incineration. They may not be pleased to know that a project has been approved which will undo any gain in air quality which such a ban could achieve. TEST would emit 535 times the sulphur dioxides of all backyard burning in the entire Hobart airshed and 37 times the amount of nitrogen oxides!
These gases form sulphuric acid and nitric acid when they react with water droplets in the Bridgewater Gerry or rain. (This is referred to because it is the closest comparison available to Southern Tasmanians, using National Pollutant Inventory data. The smelter is congratulated for advances in pollution control equipment and no negative connotations are intended.)
We are concerned that incineration will threaten Tasmania's Agriculture.
Organic vineyards, dairy, olives, cherry and grain growers would be disadvantaged if they had to prove that their produce meets the strict quality assurance standards demanded by consumers. Dioxin tests cost $1,000 each. Waste incineration should not be allowed to threaten the viability of existing primary industry in the area that is contributing to the Tasmanian Government's target to double primary industry output to $2.5 billion by 2008 and provides over 200 casual jobs.
Threaten the health of Tasmanians
Studies show increases in birth defects, cancer, asthma, immune system disorders, hormone disruption and diabetes amongst people living near incinerators, especially between 0-7 km away. Children within 5km have had double the cancer rate. We have 5 schools, shopping centres, 2 uncovered water reservoirs, animal saleyards and many residents within this range. With no continuous monitoring of dioxins, who would know if we were over-exposed? This technology has failed overseas. In Belgium last year a state of the art waste incinerator contaminated people, soil and poultry, dairy and vegetable products within 12km.
TASMANIANS AGAINST INCININERATION
Phone 62 636319 or 62 680282
Write c/- 188 Fergusson Rd, Broadmarsh, 7030
The Dirty Dozen
Australia has signed the Stockholm Convention to phase out Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Dioxin is one of the 'dirty dozen.' It is an unavoidable by-product of waste incineration and builds up in the food chain especially in dairy products and animal and human fats. If we are truly committed to phasing out dioxins it doesn't make sense to adopt waste incineration in Australia now that healthier, more sustainable alternatives exist.
'Dioxins are some of the most dangerous compounds ever created by humanity, and they're very persistent and carcinogenous, so we have to question whether any new technology which is still emitting such things is really acceptable.' Peter Carroll, Waste Crisis Network, NSW Nature Conservation Council, on
Earthbeat, 10-2-2001.
Contact  
Tasmanians Against Incineration
Lynne Forster |
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188 Ferguson Rd,
Broadmarsh,
Tasmania 7030 |
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Postal Address:
188 Ferguson Rd,
Broadmarsh
Tas 7030 |
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Municipality:
Brighton Council |
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Ph: (03) 6263-6319
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Email:
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Last Updated : 04-03-2007
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Events
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Meeting Schedule
Meetings held monthly. |
Membership open to
Anyone welcome.
No fee. |
Area Served
Brighton and surrounds |
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