Locals worried about burning of rubbish
A group of Rockingham residents have described their frustration at a State Government decision to allow the burning of rubbish at the Kwinana Industrial Area.
Shoalwater resident James Mumme said he was disappointed Environment Minister Albert Jacob, who approved the $180 million waste-to-energy plant last week, had opted to "rubbish Rockingham".
Mr Mumme said he believed a combination of different dioxins could lead to create a "lethal cocktail" and have a negative effect on air-quality.
"There are 12,000 residents and six schools in the vicinity where this incinerator will be built," he said.
"Twenty-two different dioxins will be spewed out by this thing."
But New Energy Corporation general manager Jason Pugh said the technology, which had been developed in WA over 20 years, would burn commercial and industrial, construction and demolition and municipal solid waste at low temperatures.
He said the technology met stringent European Union air emissions standards which were accepted by Australian watchdog, the Environmental Protection Authority.
"The EPA's (approval) and now the minister's approval demonstrates that our low-temperature gasification technology is the best available technology," he said.
"We are incorporating front-end materials recovery processing ahead of energy recovery, demonstrating our technology satisfies the State's environmental regulations."
Greens south metropolitan MLC Lynn MacLaren shared Mr Mumme's concerns, opting instead to support waste-reduction alternatives. She said the State should not be creating a market for burning waste.
The East Rockingham facility is expected to accept 225,000 tonnes of waste per year and power about 22,000 homes.
