It is good that Barnet is launching an air quality project, but actions such as planting street trees must not become a smokescreen (excuse me) for retrograde steps.
Since Barnet’s 2013 change to fortnightly garden waste collection, the annual amount collected has fallen by around 14 per cent, likely to mean more is burnt instead. When you do report nuisance or illegal bonfires (e.g. fed by workmen), Environmental Health are only required to attend grey smoke fires within four hours. Dark smoke fires must be attended within one hour. Even with limited resources, there are ways the council could achieve more on both these fronts.
Environment Committee chairman Councillor Dean Cohen also sits on the board of the North London Waste Authority (NLWA). The NLWA is consulting this year on a proposal to replace Edmonton’s incinerator with an even more powerful one. All incinerators generate harmful air pollutants. Cllr Cohen must ensure there is no contractual requirement to feed the new incinerator with a set amount of waste, limiting future recycling.
J Levy
Golders Gardens, Golders Green
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