“Not in my back garden” The Proposal of a Waste Incinerator and the local public’s perception.

Abstract

Each year 30million tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is generated, in the year
2000 these figures were growing by 3% each year (Unknown 2000)
The proposal of an incinerator in Runcorn England has caused huge opposition from the
local public. The all ready industrial down of Runcorn could become the site of one of
the largest incinerators in Europe. Could the opposition towards the waste incinerator be
the result of a faulty perception of risk? With the proposal needing around 10.7 hectares
and needing stack over 100m high, the local public have opposed the incinerator from the
outset of the proposal. The local public have been questioned to gather results from 70
members of the public and they were questioned at 3 different locations in Runcorn. Each
individual answered 9 questions and the results were presented and analysed using maps,
percentages, graphs and charts. The findings of the investigation prove the majority of
the aims and objectives. Although a perception of risk is down to each individual a faulty
perception can occur from a lack of knowledge. The investigation concludes with the
findings that the public opposition to the waste incinerator is down to a faulty perception
of risk.