An incinerator serving about 400,000 homes in Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, Merton and Sutton exceeded air pollution limits nearly 1,000 times. Operator Viridor admitted pollution data were collected incorrectly while seeking a 10% increase in waste throughput. Between September 2022 and March 2024 there were 916 unreported daily exceedances of Nitrogen Oxides limits. An Environment Agency investigation confirmed 16 licence breaches, one per quarter across two incinerators, and further enforcement including fines and criminal proceedings is being considered. Sutton Council has urged the Environment Secretary to take action. NOx exposure is linked to respiratory harm and reduced life expectancy. Viridor said monitoring software was incorrectly calibrated and said it takes environmental responsibility seriously.
An incinerator in south London faces enforcement from the Environment Agency after exceeding air pollution limits nearly 1,000 times.
Between September 2022 and March 2024, there were 916 occasions unreported when the incinerator exceeded its daily emissions limits for the amount of Nitrogen Oxides being released into the atmosphere.
What is also concerning is the lack of proper monitoring and scrutiny by the EA. It is important that our residents have confidence in the ability of government regulators. This report only contributes to the erosion of that trust.
Collection
[
|
...
]