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Incineration, Liquefied Gas (LPG and LNG) and Nuclear Power (Page 2b).
  This is the sub-section which deals with doom and despair and serves as a reflection on the UK governments, not to mention large proportions of the population at large.
Incinerators are likely to increase in number and it is largely because we do not recycle enough. Some other countries have grasped the nettle and have a much more pro-active approach. If you find an incinerator going up in your backyard (and its worth checking with your county authority what plans are afoot) you may wish you had recycled a lot more to reduce the amount headed towards the landfill site which is now full. They can be used to generate some energy but their main purpose is to reduce the waste going to landfill.
LPG and LNG (also CNG) are less polluting than, say, petrol and they are cheaper fuels for vehicles but that is due mainly to artificial subsidies. They are still fossil fuels and that is bad.
Nuclear Power is the fuel we are most afraid of, nay terrified of. True it has the potential to be a carbon friendly fuel but see below and our reference page on Nuclear Energy to understand why.
   
Chimneys Seagull in San Francisco
Chimneys (© Martin) Seagull in San Francisco (© Martin)
 
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Alternative Energy Sources Index
Down Are you wondering what you can do and would like some help and information?
Down to Overview of energy sources An Overview Down Biomass and Biofuels Down CHP (Cogeneration)
Down Condensing Boilers Down Fuel Cells Down Geothermal and Air-source
Down Incineration Down Liquefied Petroleum Gas Down Nuclear Power
Down Solar Energy Down Water Power Down Wind Power
    If your interest is green energy suppliers (eg domestic electricity),
see Page 3, 'Energy Conservation'.
     
    If your interest is motor vehicles see the dedicated section (Page 4). You may also find some relevant information below under the heading of Liquefied Gas.
     
  For our main reference page on Alternative, Renewable Energy and other 'Clean' Energy sources click Reference page on Alternative, Renewable and Clean Energy.
     
Incineration  

Incineration of waste, with the spin-off that energy can be generated in the process, is seen by some to be an attractive alternative to Landfill for waste disposal, but as with other environmental processes there are strong emotional expressions of support or opposition from groups and individuals. Maybe efforts, attitudes and resources would be better directed towards minimising waste and encouraging recycling. Nowhere is this more true than in the UK which has a dismal record and not much in the way of promise for the future.
To read more about this and how the 'Ban Waste' group in Newcastle upon Tyne set an example, click Incineration: a discussion. For referenced links, see below.


 

UKEN Link

UKEN articles on incineration Link

UK Environment News (UKEN), published every six weeks aims to inform the UK's leading companies, local authorities, consultants and academics. It aims to reduce research time in tracking the EU's initiatives and directives. These two links are to UKEN's home page and to items on incineration.
  NSCA information Link The National Society for Clean Air and Environment Protection (NSCA) states that poorly managed landfill and incineration sites pose a danger to health. The site gives a brief summary of the pros and cons of incineration and also a resumé of the dangers and legal position re bonfires NSCA: Information.
Sheffield University Waste Incineration Centre Link Sheffield University Waste Incineration Centre state that it is agreed in the clean technology community that the thermal treatment of waste materials is one of the best overall environmental options, but the view is not generally accepted by the public because of the fear of dioxins/furans. Their research aims to place industrial expertise on rigorous foundations.
  Original link now broken Birmingham FoE presented a "Report on Municipal Waste Incineration" (the University link no longer available) in response to Wolverhampton's proposal for a new waste incinerator. As with the Eco-Burn site above, the report was referenced but presented an opposite view, calling for a delay in the expansion of incinerators. It concluded that instead we should reduce waste, encourage recycling and lobby for a national waste strategy.
 

FoE Link

FoE press release on recycling and incineration Link

 Friends of the Earth (FoE) consistently oppose the strategy for incinerating household waste and instead favour recycling. The first link here is to the main FoE page and the second to a press release describing how badly the UK fares in the international recycling stakes. It also lists some sites in England where incinerators may be expanded and new ones created.
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Liquefied Petroleum Gas (also LNG and CNG)  Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is mostly propane and is used extensively where portable gas is required. In motor vehicles, it addresses, to some extent, the problems of pollution as an alternative , mainly to petrol. Although it is not renewable and is still based on fossil fuels, LPG is claimed to be cleaner. The UK government are encouraging its use by large tax concessions and subsidies for converting some petrol cars. It has a lot of commercial promise especially for LPG suppliers and firms who carry out car conversions. There are many sites on the subject at the end of your search engine, below are just a sample of them. We suggest you click on this button before going world wide Motor Vehicle Pollution and alternative fuels, it discusses Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as well as LPG.
  LPGA Link The LP Gas Association (LPGA) promotes benefits and safe use of LPG and sets technical and safety standards throughout the UK LPG Industry LPGA: Information.
  4car Link Channel 4's 4car Web site provides some articles on LPG Vehicles; visit the site and search for LPG.
  Alternative Fuel Systems Link Alternative Fuel Systems installs LPG systems for automotive applications and undertakes research, development and supply of alkaline fuel cells and peripheral systems for static electric power generation applications Alternative Fuel Systems: Information.
  Shell UK Link Shell UK give a useful summary of some of the pros and cons of LPG and details of how they are contributing. We found it slightly optimistic and of course orientated towards its own operations. Shell now have a site dedicated to LPG, as well as providing information on their main site.
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Nuclear Energy
  

Nuclear Reactors potentially can provide almost unlimited amounts of clean energy. Unfortunately there are extreme dangers associated with attritional discharge pollution, operational accidents, long-term clean up after decommissioning and more recently threats of terrorism. As a result, many nations have rejected expansion of nuclear methods for energy generation. Nevertheless there seem to be hidden agendas supporting the nuclear industry in the UK and possibly elsewhere. For our précis , click Nuclear Energy: Information.
For more detail see the links below.
References to BNFL from the Independent: Link The Independent gives some hard hitting references on British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL), particularly with respect to Sellafield. To see the extent link via the silver ball, search for BNFL and select what you want from the list.
Link to The Centre for Alternative Technology The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) with Friends of the Earth Cymru (Welsh FoE) are promoting the Keep Wales Nuclear Free campaign which was initiated in December 2005 by Pembrokeshire FoE. For further information on CAT click here Information on CAT or use the silver ball to go to their site.
Link to Committee on Radioactive Waste Management The Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) is an independent committee appointed by the UK Government. Their task is to review the options for managing UK radioactive wastes for which there is no agreed long-term solution. CoRWM has been asked to consult and to make recommendations to the Government in 2006. They invite you to "Have your say on the UK's Radioactive Waste and help us find a way forward"
CoreCumbria gives its opinion of Sellafield: Link Cumbrians Opposed to Radioactive Environment (CORE) is a non-political non-profit making organisation which works to highlight some of the health risks to local communities and wildlife that BNFL would rather ignore CORECumbria: Information.
Green Parties Worldwide Link Green Parties Worldwide gives an update on Chernobyl, ten years after the explosion caused the biggest nuclear accident the world has ever known.
IAEA Link The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) provides documents on Chernobyl and its consequences. Click the ball and search for Chernobyl to reveal numerous documents relating to the incident and its aftermaths.
Link to the No 2 Nuclear Power site No 2 Nuclear Power gives news and info about the UK nuclear industry. As its name suggests it opposes further nuclear developments and argues for thorough treatment of existing waste to create national confidence and trust. The site contains much valuable information to support its views.
Pennsylvania University Link Pennsylvania University: professor of Nuclear Engineering, Dr Baratta compiles a resume of the Three Mile Island reactor accident.
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Page Originated: 21 July, 2001  Last amended: 31 October, 2007