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The Byker Incinerator

From 1979 until 1998 the Byker Plant, which removed metals for recycling and produced fuel (Refuse Derived Fuel in pellets) for the incinerator, was a major part of Newcastle's waste strategy, taking approximately 40,000 tonnes of waste. However, over the years the Byker plant had suffered various difficulties including strong odours from the sorting of waste and the drying of the fuel, incidents such as the falling of "black snow" (large quantities of soot and ash) on the nearby houses from the chimney, and problems with the original boilers and main pipes that meant they had to be entirely replaced.

In 1997 Newcastle City Council decided that it needed a new waste strategy and in 1998 began negotiations for a new contract. At the time the preferred option was to increase the Byker incinerator to a capacity of 80,000 tonnes of waste with the addition of 15,000 tonnes of shredded rubber tyres.

When local residents of Byker became aware of the Council's proposals to replace and enlarge the Byker incinerator, a campaign group, CAIR (Campaign Against Incinerated Refuse) was established. CAIR organised several public meetings in the area with attendances of over 100 people, and continues to campaign actively on the issue.

The main entrance to the controversial incinerator and heat plant site in Byker

Newcastle Council agreed to hold a public meeting to discuss concerns raised. This meeting was held on 19th January 2000, and was attended by 200 people. Many concerns were raised about the existing plant and the proposed new one, and the meeting called for a public inquiry into the Council's proposals. The Council proposed a joint Working Group, and the Byker Plant Working Group, later renamed to BAN Waste, was formed.

While the Working Group identified a need to address the need for a sustainable waste strategy for the City as a whole, concerns about the Byker Plant have continued. These have focussed particularly on the use of polluted ash from the plant over allotments and footpaths, and on the cost for Byker residents of the District Heating System that is supplied from the plant. Information on work done in these areas is in the other pages in this section of the website.