It has been discovered that an explosion (1) occurred at the controversial waste incinerator at Bernard Road, Sheffield on the 27th of November 2001.
The site is known to store large amounts of fly ash close to the scene of the explosion, which is heavily contaminated with dioxin, the most toxic chemical known to science.
It has also been discovered that 5 fires occurred (2) at the site during 2001, 2 of which involved highly explosive welding gasses.
The campaign group Sheffield Against Incineration uncovered this disturbing news.
SAI spokesperson Andy Booth said, “This proves beyond doubt that the risks to the people of Sheffield do not stop at the toxic pollution waste incineration causes. If the tanks containing fly ash had been ruptured by the explosion, the whole of Sheffield could have been contaminated with a huge cloud of dust containing high levels of dioxin. This would have caused cancer and birth defects for generations – the long-term death toll is too frightening to think about. Even a small release of fly ash could have disastrous consequences for the residents only 250 meters away, and for the children at Park Hill school 500 meters away. ”
The incinerator produces around 5000 tonnes of fly ash a year, which is sent to a hazardous waste disposal site in Derbyshire. Around 30 tonnes are kept onsite prior to transportation by chemical tanker.
Planning permission for a larger incinerator on the same site has been applied for. The application specifies that Hydrazine (3), a highly explosive chemical used as rocket fuel by the US military, will be used onsite.
Andy Booth added, “The new incinerator will be a disaster waiting to happen. Onyx has an awful safety record, including the poison gas leaks at the SARP chemical plant in Rotherham. It is the view of SAI that Onyx are not fit to construct or operate a potentially lethal site, and that their incompetence could cost the lives of thousands of people.”
Information regarding the explosion and fires has been kept from public knowledge by the site operator, Onyx.
Sheffield Against Incineration will be holding a protest against the planned incinerator outside Sheffield town hall at 11am, Friday 11th of January 2002.
Andy Booth
Sheffield Against Incineration (SAI)
Phone : 0789 971 0765
Email: press@sheffieldagainstincineration.co.uk
There were a total of 28 Fire Brigade call outs to the site during 2001, 22 of which were false alarms.