The proposed Beddington incinerator has now been licensed by the Environment Agency (EA), but that is no guarantee that it will be built, or that it would be harmless to health.

Air monitoring in the UK does not test for tiny nano-particles, so quite simply these will pass under the EA's radar and into your lungs in unknowable quantities, containing assorted pollutants. From there they can probably pass on into your bloodstream.

Viridor will tell you this incinerator will save lots of money, divert waste from landfill and generate electricity for 30,000 homes etc. However, homes aren't actually short of electricity, and incinerators make for tiny, inefficient power stations. Landfill tax- which pushes up your council tax, could be avoided by more and better recycling.

We only recycle about 37 per cent locally, but the best in London is 53 per cent and the best in England went from 36 per cent to 69 per cent in two years. Why can't the council do better, instead of resorting to a giant 25 year fire? Much of what will get burned isn't 'unrecyclable', just unsorted. There are also more modern, less polluting ways of processing what's left over.

This land is the London equivalent of greenbelt so Boris has the final say, even though Sutton Council gave approval, apparently caving in for fear of losing an expensive appeal if they dared to refuse permission - a poor decision made in your name.

Once, or if this gets built, it won't really matter how much more you or your children decide to recycle, because your South London Waste Authority will be contracted to feed it.

They will have no incentive to encourage recycling, and will have to 'import' waste if you don't produce 'enough'. Do your own research and if you object to this incinerator, email the Mayor of London quickly.

David Hoole
Croydon


MORE CROYDON STORIES