News / Environment
Boomeco occupied ahead of contract renewal
Environmental campaigners broke into the site of waste recycling company Boomeco on the eve of the city council approving a new waste disposal contract.
George Ferguson is set to approve a new deal for a minimum of 40,000 tonnes of waste being sent to the Chittening Road site to save £255,000.
The waste is converted to bales of refuse derived fuel (RDF) which is then shipped to Sweden to burn in biomass power plants.
Campaigners from Reclaim the Power broke into the site at about 1pm on Monday and posed with signs saying “stop polluting Avonmouth” and “big biomass is not green”.
The group said they were protesting against state subsidies for the biomass industry. They also said they were standing up against plans for a biomass power station on the Chittening Road site. Plans were turned down last year, but an appeal was launched.
The council is set to sign a deal to extend the contract with Boomeco for another 12 months, helping bring the amount of waste which goes into landfill from 30 per cent to 10 per cent.
Boomeco made headlines last year when an infestation of flies broke out in damaged bales of RDF which are exported through Bristol Port.
Homes and business were swarmed by flies before the company was temporarily shut down by the Environment Agency.
Ferguson said all the necessary environment requirements had been met and he was planing to push through with the new deal.
Oliver Latter, Boomeco’s managing director, has said that the company has invested heavily to make sure another infestation does not happen. The firm has been contacted for further comment.
A spokesman for Boomeco said, “Boomeco is a responsible business continually investing in innovative technology to provide sustainable waste management services. No Government subsidy is received by our company.
“Amongst our recycling services, we recycle recovered wood. This is turned into wood chip to produce particle board commonly used in kitchens. We also convert low quality, waste wood into biomass fuel which is carefully processed to provide renewable energy for schools and local councils.
“Both of these activities divert waste from landfill, reducing costs for local taxpayers and stopping greenhouse gases from being released into the atmosphere.
“Measures are in place to control dust from the wood to energy process which supports our reputation as a good neighbour. For example, our wood processing is carried out in a large building to reduce the impact on the environment. A recent independent Planning Inspection found no evidence of air pollution resulting from our work.
“We will continue to engage with local councils and nearby residents to ensure any environmental impact on Avonmouth is kept to a minimum.”
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