OZ:PVC Waste Incinerator Successfully Stopped for the Day

["Greenbase" <greenbas@gb.greenpeace.org>]

SUCCESSFUL OCCUPATION OF HAZARDOUS WASTE INCINERATOR PREVENTS
BURNING ALL DAY -- GREENPEACE

Auckland, Monday June 16th 1997:- Greenpeace successfully
prevented a hazardous PVC waste incinerator in East Tamaki from
operating today after three climbers occupied the incinerator
stacks at 5.30am this morning.

The climbers came down off the stacks at 4.15pm today after wind
and rain posed a safety risk.  The three have been arrested and
charged with trespass. 

Greenpeace toxics campaigner Michael Szabo said that for the
past few weeks, Greenpeace had observed the incinerator starting
up every Monday.

"However, today they have been unable to burn PVC and emit
cancer-causing dioxins because of Greenpeace's climbers on their
stacks," he said.  "Greenpeace will continue to press the
incinerator company to end the incineration of PVC waste and
move to cleaner waste management practices such as autoclaving
(steam sterilisation) and microwaving."

Earlier, four people were arrested this morning at the
incinerator after police used large bolt-cutters to release them
from vehicles blocking loading bays for hazardous waste
deliveries.  The four were released without being charged this
afternoon.

The East Tamaki incinerator will be visited by the Associate
Environment Minister Hon Deborah Morris and the Ministry for the
Environment's Hazardous Waste Advisory Group on Friday.  Mr
Szabo is the environment movement representative on the Advisory
Group.

Incinerator ash is listed as one of the top "dirty dozen" toxic
wastes by the group.

ENDS

Further information:  Michael Szabo (025) 931 363 or Stephanie
Mills (025) 790 817.
Stephanie Mills

+64 9 630 6317
Stephanie.Mills@dialb.greenpeace.org