Extinction Rebellion (XR) protested outside the Bournemouth Civic Centre today as plans for a new incinerator are made in Canford.
If passed, this will be the third planned incinerator in Dorset, with one in Portland and another in West Parley.
The West Parley incinerator was granted permission to be built by the BCP Council in December 2022.
Eco Sustainable Solutions, who requested to build the incinerator, have reapplied a petition to increase the capacity of it.
Environmentalists had hoped the company would not go ahead with the build given the outcry from locals.
The activists have said they are concerned for the air quality surrounding the area, and the impact it could have on people’s health.
Joanna Bury, one of the pink rebels and part of XR, said to Buzz News: “There’s real concern that Dorset will be a hot spot for incinerators. The one at Canford is close to Wimbourne, only about six miles away.
“We’ve come along today because it’s a fact of life the plume from Canford incinerator will come over Wimbourne and there is big concern for public health.
“Incineration is now recognised to be the most dirty and polluting form of energy generation since the coal mines were shut down.
“It’s also really bad news for the future of our planet because we’re living beyond the edges in terms of consumption,” she said.
At the end of 2024, the temperature of Earth went over the agreed upon target of 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Incinerators work by taking rubbish and burning it to get rid of it.
The fumes from the process have been reported to affect the health of locals as well as releasing green house gases into the atmosphere.
“It’s a source of climate change. Incineration is bonkers”, Ms Bury added.
“It shouldn’t happen, it mustn’t happen, we can’t let this happen in Canford.”
Ms Bury added that Dorset is a “beautiful county” with a lot of bio-diversity, and can’t be known for having ‘toxic air’.
Paul Carey, managing director of the company whose set to build it, said to the Echo: “MVV believes their proposals will provide a more sustainable solution for the management of the region’s residual waste, turning it into useful energy, some of which can be used locally.
XR have done peaceful protests for the planning of the incinerators last year and depending on the decision from today, have told Buzz they may protest again.
Lowy: “We lacked a bit of belief in ourselves”