Protestors to march against plans for Waste Incinerator on Portland

Campaigners say Portland is not the place for a waste incinerator

Author: George SharpePublished 1st Oct 2021

Campaigners are preparing to march once more to Portland Port in protest of a planned Waste Incinerator.

The march takes place on Saturday 16th October.

Protesters are meeting at 10am on the green beside Victoria Square.

If approved, Powerfuel Portland Waste Incinerator would create enough low-carbon energy to power up to 30,000 homes.

Protesters say the drawbacks far outweigh the benefits, warning we should be ditching waste altogether rather than burning it.

They say the incinerator which features a tall chimney would be a public health risk and could damage the local ecology.

Paula Klaentschi is one of the campaigners. She told Greatest Hits Radio Dorset:

"The decision will be made by our representatives. They need to know that we all know that it is really not a good idea, no thank you, not here.

"The particular weather patterns, the cause from the wind, funnelling round the island and the hill form eddies and backdrafts and we have a static cloud that sits on top of that island regularly.

"That pollution will sit in that cloud and then it will get washed down on land and sea."

They say it will have a negative impact on public health, as well as an impact on the conservation of the area as the jewel of the Jurassic Coast.

The march is designed to let people, particularly councillors, know that there are people standing against the plans.

You can find out more on the groups event page on social media.

On their website Powerfuel Portland say:

"The proposed facility at Portland Port will use a refined, Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) and will be capable of treating local waste arisings once recyclable materials such as glass, plastics and metals have been removed.

"The ERF that Powerfuel Portland is proposing can produce low carbon energy much more cleanly and efficiently than the consented scheme and much more cleanly than traditional fossil fuels such as coal and gas. The Portland ERF will be carbon neutral throughout its 30 year operating life."

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