Burning problem

protests against waste incineration are sweeping Spain. Highlighting the health risks related to emission of dioxins and furans due to waste incineration, the anti-incineration campaigners expressed their angst outside 12 cement-works and municipal waste incinerators recently. The new wave of concern has emerged due to the recent growth in concentration of industrial waste at cement plants and large volumes of animal feed contaminated with the transmissible bovine illness called mad cow disease dumped at waste incinerator sites. A spokesperson for the cement manufacturers organisation Officemen says the industry supports more coincineration of toxic waste "as an eco- friendly alternative to landfill disposal' adding, "only two per cent of industrial waste is currently disposed of in cement kilns'.