FAQs

Who will regulate these new waste facilities?
Waste treatment facilities are among the most strictly regulated industries in the UK. Environment Agency Wales will monitor the performance of these facilities on a regular basis and has access to all emissions testing and monitoring results.  If the facility uses incineration technology it will also be subject to the stringent emission levels set by the European Incineration Directive.  Many existing energy from waste facilities publicly display their emissions readings for everyone to see.

Does incineration produce high levels of dioxins and will it affect my health?
Pressure groups often talk about dioxins - chemicals that are harmful to human health. However, production from incineration facilities is extremely small. It helps if we realise that about 14 percent of UK dioxin emissions are produced on bonfire night alone, while the Health Protection Agency recently released a report stating that less than 1% of UK yearly dioxin emissions would come from the incineration of household waste.  Improvements in technology and regulation mean incineration emissions have not only fallen significantly, but that emissions will be highly regulated to ensure a continuation of this good performance.  There are further links to a number of health report studies on our links page.

How many facilities will need to be built?
Councils across Wales are joining together in regional partnerships to develop the most sustainable, cost effective and practical solution for dealing with our waste.  By taking a regional approach, the number of new waste treatment facilities will be limited.  Wales will see the development of a small number of facilities capable of dealing with the waste created in a region as a whole.

Where and when will the new facilities be built?
Many new waste treatment facilities will need to be built across Wales over the next few years. Every new facility will be subject to strict planning and permitting processes. Local Authorities will need to make very difficult decisions about suitable locations and, among other aspects, will take into consideration local housing, transport routes and proximity of sites to other waste treatment facilities.

Private industry will also affect what will be built and when. While councils throughout Wales are looking to buy new facilities as a solution for dealing with our household waste, private companies will also be applying to local authorities to build facilities of their own. These may be intended to treat commercial and industrial waste. While local authorities are not responsible for proposing these new facilities, they will have a role in evaluating any planning proposal submitted by private companies.

Public engagement throughout the planning process will be vital. You do have a say. Creating a zero waste Wales will require a huge national effort and it is important that you get involved. 

We know that this is an important issue.  If you still have questions that need answering, please get in touch.