FURTHER to the debate in the Evening Press on incineration, the most notorious by-product of burning rubbish is dioxin which is formed when things that contain substances like PVC plastic are burnt.
Dioxins are highly toxic and accumulate in the food chain. The most toxic dioxin is classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and has been described as the most toxic chemical known to human society. It is estimated that incineration accounts for 40-80 percent of atmospheric dioxin in industrial countries.
Incinerators do produce electricity but this is always a very small amount against the energy needed to recover the raw material, transport it often vast distances and turn it into finished goods and packaging.
On the other hand, recycling always uses far less energy and reduces the amount of imports. It would also create jobs in this country.
P Allenby
York Ryedale Friends of the Earth
Kexby Avenue, York.
Updated: 12:57 Friday, July 27, 2001
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