Environmentalists prioritize recycling over ‘incineration’

Juan Jesús González, from the Tenerife Forum Against Incineration, argues: “The introduction of incineration systems in waste treatment is a disaster and the consequence of not having done the task.” He considers that «having followed the steps of the Waste Management Plan, approved in 2009, it would not have been necessary. He understands that “no work has been done to improve clean points and composting plants or in awareness campaigns.” Summarize: “When you don’t do your homework, you have to resort to unwise solutions. As much as they want to come up with technical terms, this is incineration. ”

He delves into the idea: «Energy recovery is said to hide the burning of garbage. The way to treat waste with the greatest impact and the one that Europe advises least ”. Remember to conclude: «In 2019 the Cabildo approved an institutional declaration against incineration, promoted by the PSOE and the then insular councilor and today of the Canary Islands Government José Antonio Valbuena. So why do you want to introduce it now?

Eugenio Reyes, from Ben Magec Ecologistas en Acción, opines: «It seems an aberration to do an aerial dumping of garbage when it burns, which is what is done here. More with climate change. An absurdity ». He insists: «It would be necessary to legislate to prohibit the burning of garbage. If it is done, it is already an ecological attack but if they put fuel in it, it is a double crime. He concludes: «Our soil lacks organic matter due to constant erosion and this organic component can help agriculture. Glass or metal are recyclable and garbage must be valued ».

Fernando Sabaté is a professor of Geography at the ULL. He explains: “Nothing has been understood in the correct management of organic matter.” And he elaborates: «If there is something we lack on our Island, it is this in the ground and, therefore, fertilizer for crops or parks and gardens. We import huge amounts of organic fertilizer every year. ‘ He clarifies that “paradoxically, it usually comes from landfills where organic matter is separated.” And he warns: «The effort should have been tried many years ago to establish the fifth container or a door-to-door collection system. This organic matter, separated at home, “then concentrated in composting plants.”

Remember that the PTEOR contemplated three plants, in the north, the south and the Metropolitan Area. He concludes: “They take this rabbit out of the hat, a very sophisticated and little-tested system, which they sell as not incinerating because there is no combustion with oxygen, but they spend a lot of energy reducing it.” “In the case of organic matter, they renounce their separation and the essential composting for current and future agriculture.” “It seems like a complete nonsense to me,” he says. And remember: “In the last term, an institutional motion was approved by which Tenerife renounced the incineration of waste.”

The professor argues: «They say that one of the advantages of these processes is to achieve electrical energy. And it doesn’t make sense. We have plenty of renewables, the wind and the sun, because the power already installed exceeds any peak on the island. The effort must be concentrated on how to store it. ” And he points out: «Energy recovery does not add anything to our Island. Maybe in Norway or Siberia, but not here. What must be valued is the use of organic matter. Sabaté concludes: “To hide the ghost of incineration, they tell us about other more sophisticated models.”