This is a story about billion pound tax breaks, backroom deals and a "low carbon" industry that is almost as polluting (per kWh) as coal. My investigation into the UK's waste to energy scandal for  @Source_Mat @Telegraph https://www.source-material.org/blog/dirty-white-elephants 1/

First off, this is a topic that inspires strong feelings. One person told me he abandoned his campaign against the local incinerator after someone threw a large piece of Yorkshire stone through his front window. 2/

It is usually local councils that award the multi-million pound contracts to build and operate incinerators.

In Sutton, it turns out one of the councillors who chose Viridor for Beddington's £1bn incinerator contract was old friends with Viridor's CEO. (h/t @InsideCroydon) 3/

Councillors in Belfast meanwhile have been told they could be fined if they blocked the incinerator.

'It’s very intimidating,' said one.

Some ceded to the pressure and voted for the incinerator despite being elected on a platform of opposing it. 4/

Even the Environment Agency has been caught up in planning rows, reversing its decision to block an incinerator after the company invested in local flood alleviation plans. 

The EA denied one campaigner's suggestion that 'the price for a permit is a dam'. 5/

In planning applications, companies say their incinerators will generate low carbon energy, despite having data that shows they emit almost the same level of CO2/kWh as a coal-fired power station 6/

Despite this, incinerators are excluded from the emissions trading scheme that charges polluters for burning fossil fuels, saving them £15bn over their 25-year life span 7/

As environment minister, Thérèse Coffey said there should be no need for new waste incinerators if the UK hits recycling targets.

Only problem... recycling rates have flatlined while waste incineration rose by 44% in 5 years. 8/

Also covered by @RachelMillardAS in this morning's @Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/02/04/energy-waste-plants-face-scrutiny-carbon-emissions/ 9/