Nepal UK
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KATHMANDU, Nepal —A major incinerator in South London is under investigation by the Environment Agency after its operator admitted to a massive failure in its pollution monitoring system. The incident has revealed that the plant exceeded air pollution limits on 916 separate occasions over nearly two years, prompting outrage from local councils and residents.
The Beddington incinerator, which processes waste for 400,000 households across the boroughs of Croydon, Sutton, Merton, and Kingston, was found to have been incorrectly collecting data on its emissions. A reassessment revealed it had regularly breached daily pollution limits for nitrogen oxides between August 2022 and March 2024.
According to a spokesperson for the operator, Viridor, the problem was a "human error" within the third-party contractor's monitoring software. The company claims it self-reported the issue to the Environment Agency, which has now confirmed 16 breaches of the plant's licence. The agency is considering further enforcement action, which could include significant fines or, in rare cases, criminal proceedings.
Sutton Council, a major client of the facility, has publicly condemned the lack of transparency. Council leader Barry Lewis stated that the council was only informed of the breaches this month, a full 16 months after the issue was first discovered. In a letter to the Environment Secretary, Mr Lewis expressed deep concern about the health impacts on residents and a loss of confidence in government regulators.
While the UK Health Security Agency has said the emissions were "unlikely" to have caused immediate harm, it also warned that any level of exposure could lead to potential harm over time. Studies have linked nitrogen oxides to respiratory problems and other long-term health issues.
The incident has reignited a fierce debate about the safety and regulation of energy-from-waste plants, especially as the Beddington facility is currently seeking to expand its operations.
(Source: BBC reporting)
