Some answers to questions from neighbours :

 

Why was the Morcenx site chosen?
Europlasma chose Morcenx to become its major centre of excellence for the conversion of waste into power:
-    Because the region lacks the ability to process waste locally, and because our proposal was favourably received by the authorities responsible for monitoring the departmental waste management plan.
-    Because the site involved is close to the EDF grid, which is a key factor for an electricity-generating plant
-    Because Inertam personnel are highly professional and trained to operate systems like CHO Power.

The Morcenx CHO Power project complies with all the regulations relating to plants classified as environmentally sensitive (Installations Classées pour la Protection de l’Environnement – ICPE).
In addition to these regulations, Europlasma has extended the scope of its research to further limit the potential noise, odour, public health, and environmental impacts.

Will the Morcenx plant generate additional road traffic?
At present it is envisaged that waste will arrive in lorries. It is estimated that there will be an average turnover of 15 lorries per day, that is, less than 1% of the current road traffic seen on the D38 road.
In future we hope to use rail freight, seeing that the site has a dedicated rail link. This alternative will essentially depend on the infrastructure that is available between the collection points and the site. We will need to confirm that the use of a diesel locomotive and collection vehicles actually causes less pollution than lorry traffic.

Will the waste have a bad smell?
The waste treated in this plant comes from commercial waste such as can be seen in the skips behind commercial premises. It therefore has no odour and cannot be detected by smell. In addition, the waste will be unloaded in a closed building.
A measurement of the odour that was present was made in May 2008 over a perimeter of 6 km around the site and right around the town. New measurements are to be made once the site is in operation.

Will the CHO Power plant produce unpleasant odours?
The waste is processed at very high temperatures which destroys any unpleasant odours.

Will I be able to continue to grow garden vegetables close to a CHO Power plant?
The soil is the final resting place for deposits of dioxins, furans, and heavy metals. With this high-temperature plant no dioxins or furans are produced.
As for heavy metals, these are removed during sorting to be recycled so as to minimise the amounts introduced into the electricity-generating plant. In addition, metal levels are measured in the chimney.

Will I be able to continue to fish in the Mouréou river next to the Morcenx CHO Power plant?
The water collected in the various parts of the plant is collected to be treated before being released into the natural surroundings. The facility complies with the recommendations of the 1991 Law relating to water.

How will local residents be kept informed of the results of checks?
The local Directorate for Industry, Research & Environment (Direction Régionale de l'Industrie de la Recherche et de l’Environnement – DRIRE) is the State representative as far as industrial and environmental hazards are concerned. This organisation has access to all the data for operations carried out in the plant.
Europlasma has to publish an annual environmental report when it publishes its results.

Will the plant disfugure the local environment?
The plant is as compact as possible and its architectural design incorporates the latest 21st-century technology. There is to be no land clearance.

Will you be able to see the plume of smoke from the chimney?
There will normally be a white plume showing the presence of steam leaving the chimney.

Is the CHO Power plant SEVESO classified?
No, there are no chemicals stored on the site.

Where does the waste come from?
Waste will come only from the Department of Les Landes and adjacent Departments. This approach is in line with the departmental waste management plan.

Will the Morcenx plant create jobs?
Operation of the Morcenx plant will create 25 jobs.