Croydon incinerator broke pollution limits 916 times in two years

The Bedington Inquator, who serves four South London Councils, faces enforcement from the environment agency after crossing the air pollution limit on 916 occasions.

The crimes between 2022 and 2024 at the energy-to-mashing plant revealed last week that the operator Viridor had admitted that it was incorrectly collecting pollution figures.

The Sutton Council, which sends garbage to the site, has written to Environment Secretary Steve Reid that he urges to take enforcement action and says that it was only 16 months later after violations.

A Viridor spokesman said it takes environmental responsibility seriously and under-reporting was “human error”.

The plant offers waste disposal services for 400,000 homes in four councils – Croidon, Sutton, Marton and Kingston.

To operate, it will have to record daily air pollution by burning waste for major pollutants and ensure that they stay below some levels.

In March, Viridor felt that its monitoring software was incorrectly calibrated and a revaluation showed that it was violated to the daily pollution limit for regular nitrogen oxides between August 2022 and March 2024.

The environment agency (EA) was informed and a later investigation confirmed 16 violations of its license – in its two incinerators for each quarter. The regulator told the BBC that it was considering further enforcement action.

This may include a fine and, as a final measure, criminal proceedings – although such action is rarely taken.

A spokesman for the Viridor said: “The environment agency has accepted violations in Bedington, resulting in a human error from the third party contractor, which confirms the investigation of an independent environmental advisor.”

This is to say that it takes environmental responsibility seriously.

The Sutton Council told the BBC that it was only informed about the violations of this month – Viridor got the issue for the first time.

On Friday, Council Leader Barry Lewis wrote to the company and the Environment Secretary, who represents neighboring Stratham and Croidon North, raise concerns about health effects and repeat their opposition to the proposed expansion of the site.

In his letter to Mr. Reid, Mr. Lewis said that this news is “still deeply upset” for the residents.

He said, “There is also a lack of proper monitoring and investigation by EA. It is important that our residents believe in the capacity of government regulators. This report only contributes to the erosion of that trust,” he wrote.

The government has not yet to answer.

Nitrogen dioxide is connected With adverse health effects, including an increase in respiratory symptoms.

The UK’s Health Protection Agency assessed the local monitor after the revelation, and confirmed that the daily air quality limits were not violated and “emissions are unlikely to be damaged to human health or environment.”

But it was also said that “an exposed population is likely to be subject to potential loss at any level.”