Parish Council Objects to Energy from Waste plant at Transwaste
Published: 30 January 2025
The Parish Council has submitted the following objection to the ERYC planning portal for the planning application 24/03633/CM, Variation of condition 2 (approved plans) of planning reference 18/00703/CM (Erection of an energy from waste plant) to allow for amended design.
North Ferriby Parish Council (NFPC) strongly objects to the application to build an Energy from Waste plant (24/ 03633/CM) at the Transwaste site. Since the original planning permission was granted in 2018, there have been significant changes in the waste management landscape which raise questions over the justification for this facility and mean that the application should be reviewed from a fresh standpoint.
Changes to Government Strategy
The waste hierarchy prioritises waste prevention, reuse, and recycling over energy recovery or disposal. The construction of a new incineration facility undermines these efforts by creating reliance on a technology that conflicts with the government’s commitment to circular economy principles.
In December the Government announced stricter standards for new waste incineration projects to promote environmental sustainability and community well-being. This proposal falls short of this initiative as it does not address how heat generated by the facility would be utilised to benefit local communities or industries, as required by the new standards. It also lacks a robust plan to integrate carbon capture readiness or demonstrate its compatibility with future carbon capture technology. It is not sustainable development or low carbon energy without utilising the waste heat.
The National Policy Statement for Renewable Energy Infrastructure (EN-3) emphasizes that new EfW plants should not result in overcapacity and must align with waste management targets. Evidence suggests that there is already excess capacity for waste processing within the Yorkshire and Humber region, as highlighted by the recent mothballing of a site in Hull and the equivalent sized EfW plant to App 18/00703 currently lying idle at Tansterne, in the East Riding. There is also an application pending with the Secretary of State for a 760,000 tonne EFW facility in Flixborough, North Lincolnshire, only 20 miles away by road which, if approved will further increase local and national capacity. With future initiatives such as stricter recycling targets, extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, and the introduction of mandatory food waste collections, the volume of residual waste generated is due to fall. Adding another facility would further exacerbate this imbalance, leading to inefficiencies and the potential importation of waste from outside the area. This contradicts sustainable waste management principles, challenges ERYC Climate Change initiatives and risks undermining local and national waste reduction strategies.
Impact on Air Quality
The operation of an EfW plant inherently generates emissions, including particulate matter and other pollutants. Given the proximity of this proposed plant to residential areas, one of the largest secondary schools in the region and sensitive European designated ecological zones, there is a substantial risk of air quality degradation. There are already substantial concerns about the air quality in the area due to the high levels of NOx and particulate matter recorded by the ERYC monitors.
The historic Capper Pass chimney was 180 metre high when it discharged toxic heavy metals which contaminated land up to 24 km away. Burning plastic waste is considered to be dirtier than coal fired power stations, so where will the toxic fallout extend from a mere 55 metre chimney stack?
The proposed emission chimney, at 55 metres high, is at a similar height to Swanland i.e.50 – 90 metres above this site level. North Ferriby, Swanland, Kirk Ella, West Ella, Willerby and Cottingham are all down wind of the prevailing south westerly winds putting thousands of residents at risk from “dirty” emissions. ERYC Public and Environmental Health officers and elected members should not have to be reminded of the tragic impact of Capper Pass emissions in this locality.
The close proximity of existing wind turbines in the area, and with more prosed, will also have the effect of preventing the emissions from rising into the upper atmosphere and this will mean that the impact on the air quality in the local vicinity will be greater from this site than for other similar facilities elsewhere.
With the science around the impact of small particulate matter (PM2.5) causing a rise in cardiovascular mortality now well founded, it is very concerning to read recent research indicating that waste incinerators generate large amounts of ultrafine particles (PM0.1) which are not captured by the emission control equipment, and these ultrafine particles are most detrimental to health.
Air quality in the East Riding is known to already suffer from the emissions from the steel works in Scunthorpe and the pending application for the forementioned EfW plant in Flixborough near Scunthorpe, which is directly downwind from Melton, will add to air pollution if approved. Any impact must be considered cumulatively with the potential output from this site. It is therefore premature to approve the application at Melton until the outcome of the significant proposal for Flixborough is known.
A former ERYC Director of Public Health (Dr Tim Allison) highlighted the damage that air pollution causes to public health in the East Riding in his annual report of 2018/19, and it is therefore vital that senior ERYC Public and Environmental Health officers’ comment clearly on this application and take responsibly for the impact of any approval.
Additional to concerns around public health, consideration must be given to the need for local businesses who rely on clean air audits to operate ie pharmaceutical related companies (Origin Ltd and the pending Smith & Nephew facility). North Ferriby Parish Council supports those businesses that have located themselves at Melton West if they consider the approval of this EfW detrimental to their operations.
Impact on Ecology
The outcome of the Air Quality report states that ‘Predicted nutrient nitrogen deposition impacts at the Humber Estuary European site could not be screened out as ‘not significant’.’ and suggests that ‘Additional analysis is required to confirm there would be no likely significant effect on sensitive habitat sites’. This proposal cannot be considered until the work has been carried out independently and verified by Natural England. The analysis should also take account of the pending Flixborough decision and the potential cumulative impact on these sensitive sites.
Building Colour and Visual Impact
The proposed colour and design of the building fail to adequately mitigate its scale and visual impact. Not only is the new proposal significantly higher (5 metres) than the original proposal and any other building on the Melton Industrial estate, the choice of black for the building colour will dominate the surrounding landscape, drawing attention to its location rather than blending with the wider environment. Should ERYC choose to approve this application, a more carefully chosen colour scheme should be mandatory to reduce the building's obtrusiveness.
Summary
The proposed variation of the previously approved EfW facility falls short of meeting the government’s updated stricter standards for waste incinerators and fails to address environmental, public health, and visual impact considerations. ERYC has a duty of care to its residents to ensure that the processing of its waste streams is carried out without having a detrimental impact on public health. NFPC urges the Planning Authority to refuse this application unless the applicant can provide clear evidence of compliance with the latest national requirements and with no impact on public health or local businesses.