Environmental campaigners group Friends of the Earth Scotland have hailed the news that plans for a major incinerator in Lanarkshire have been cancelled.
Waste management giants Viridor announced this week that it was withdrawing interest in erecting the facility at Overwood Farm, south of Larkhall and Stonehouse.
The Overwood incinerator could have led to a substantial rise in vehicles on the road in the area and subsequently a rise in air and noise pollution too, the group say.
Kim Pratt, circular economy campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, told Lanarkshire Live : “This is a huge victory for the Stonehouse community and they should be proud of their efforts.
"Viridor have made this decision before the findings of the Scottish Government’s review into incineration are published next month, signalling that even large waste management companies know that time is up for incineration in Scotland.
“This decision shows that the current moratorium on new incineration applications should be extended immediately and that Scotland needs an exit strategy from incineration if it is to meet its climate goals.
“We need to see a greater focus on reducing waste and recycling, and we must stop burning our valuable resources if we are to bring down the consumption levels that are wrecking the planet."
Dovesdale Action Group have led the local campaign against the project, blocking earlier plans for a similar incinerator nearby and leading the huge community response opposing the Overwood plant.
John Young, from the Dovesdale Action Group, told us : "“The announcement by Viridor to withdraw their proposal for the largest incinerator in Scotland is testament to the strength of the campaign here in South Lanarkshire to protect our communities from the impact it would have had on our rural landscape, public health, the environment and climate change.
"This is the second time we have fought and defeated proposals for such a development.
“This campaign has raised the issues of incineration to a national level in understanding the threats such proposals have on our climate targets, recycling targets and protecting communities across Scotland.
"Today 'nature' is telling us the time has come to think differently about how we manage our waste and produce goods.
“Dovesdale Action Group and communities want to see a national policy in Scotland that reflects our aspirations of a cleaner, greener society and we hope that the national review of incineration reflects the need for change and sees Scotland take an international role in leading that change globally.”
Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!
