Highland Council waste policy is for three incinerators to be functional by 2020. They are to be located in the following areas: 1. Inner Moray Firth; 2. Caithness and Sutherland; 3. Isle Of Skye.

Incinerators produce pollution in two ways. Firstly, they discharge hundreds of pollutants into the atmosphere. Secondly, incinerators convert some of the waste into ash and some of this ash will contain high concentrations of toxic substances such as dioxins and heavy metals, creating a major pollution problem for future generations.

It is also important to note that incineration does not solve the landfill problem, because of the large volumes of the toxic ash that are produced.

Of the relatively few studies of populations exposed to incinerator emissions or of occupational exposure to incinerators, most show higher than expected levels of cancer and birth defects in the local population and increased ischaemic heart disease reported in incinerator workers.

It is nice to know what our locally elected councillors and council think of our and future generations' health!

The review taking place of the planning vote to refuse Highland Council an extension of its waste bulking site is, for many in Invergordon, proof of Highland Council's desire to locate the future proposed incinerator at Invergordon (Inner Moray Firth).

Duncan L Macdonald, Woodside Gardens, Invergordon.

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