It reveals that, where studies into health impacts of incinerators have been conducted, waste incineration is associated with definite hazards to human health such as lung, throat, liver and stomach cancers as well as respiratory problems and heart disease. The limited number of tests that have been done have produced deeply worrying evidence of the potential links between incineration and serious illnesses. But it is only the tip of the iceberg. Far more research needs to be carried out to establish the true extent of the problem and to establish exact patterns of illness. The scientific data also reveal that, despite reduction in some chemicals in the stack emissions, even modern incinerators release numerous toxic substances into the atmosphere and into residues such as fly ash and bottom ash, often at increased concentrations.
Green waste makes up more than half of the biodegradable waste.
To suggest that the incineration of biowastes as a renewable source of energy undermines society's move towards genuine sources of renewable energy, hampers the effort to minimise the production of municipal waste and discourages the development of composting. This makes it virtually impossible to burn without adding paper. Even if one considers that it meets the technical definition of renewable energy, it utterly fails to meet what might be called a 'common- sense' interpretation.