Krasnik. There will be a referendum on the construction of a waste incineration plant

The dispute over the construction of a waste incineration plant in Kraśnik is entering a new phase. The City Council passed a resolution on holding a referendum. The deadline has been set on May 21 this year. Residents will be able to express their opinion in 23 precincts.

The referendum question is: Do you want an energy recovery plant to be built in Kraśnik from the process of thermal transformation of energy fractions of municipal waste, the so-called waste incinerator?

The referendum will be important if at least 30% of the entitled to vote, i.e. 7,944 people.

The initiators of the referendum have no doubt that the “voice of the people” in this matter is extremely important. – Only a referendum will allow us to reliably assess the attitude of inhabitants of Kraśnik towards this investment. The construction has been talked about for two years, and in a short time we collected several thousand signatures under the application. Residents already know a lot about this – says Andrzej Maj, one of the initiators of the referendum and former starost of Kraśnik.

– Of course, I am very favorable towards the referendum as well as towards all institutions of a democratic society. In this particular case, however, I believe that the referendum in Kraśnik is being used as an instrument in the local political struggle, he says Wojciech Wojtaszek, member of the board of Eko Energia Kraśnikwhich intends to build a ZOE in this city.

The discussion about this plant has been going on for two years. The atmosphere, as always with this type of investment, is close to boiling. Both sides trade arguments. – We are against the construction of an incinerator for several reasons. We are afraid that the construction of the plant may have a negative impact on the health of the residents, because waste incineration is not ecological, green energy. In addition, there are houses and blocks of flats within a short distance from the planned location, so many residents have serious concerns about the value of their properties,” lists Andrzej Maj.

– After all, we are talking about an investment that is completely safe for the city and its residents. This is evidenced by the positive agreement of the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Lublin and the experience of countries, including the European Union. For the inhabitants of Kraśnik, it also means future economic benefits in the form of lower fees for heat and waste – adds Wojciech Wojtaszek.

– The incineration plant will not have a significant impact on reducing unemployment and economic growth. It is not without reason that soft fruit producers, including many city residents, are protesting. This area is famous throughout the country for the cultivation of high-quality raspberries. Many residents of Kraśnik are afraid that waste from other towns will be brought to the city, because the waste processing capacity will allow it – adds Andrzej Maj.

Let us recall that the planned Energy Recovery Plant is to function as a combined heat and power plant, which will produce electricity and heat for heating. The plant is to be erected in Kraśnik at ul. Fabrycznanext to the Veolia Wschód plant (former FŁT heat and power plant)

Currently, the case is being processed at the City Hall. – Administrative proceedings are underway to issue a decision on environmental conditions for the implementation of this project – says Maciej Suszek, from the mayor’s office. – The statutory provisions specify precisely the conditions on the basis of which such a decision should be issued. The basis is opinions and arrangements with institutions. Among others, with the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection or Polish Waters – he adds.

At the end of last year, the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management granted PLN 87 million in funding for the construction of the Energy Recovery Plant in Kraśnik. The entire investment is expected to cost over 126 million. The incineration plant in Kraśnik is to process 24.3 thousand tons of waste per year.

If the turnout in the referendum exceeded the required threshold of 30 percent, and the residents spoke negatively, the mayor is still bound by procedures. – If the statutory conditions are met, the mayor of the city is obliged to issue a decision. This is not a free decision of the mayor – adds Maciej Suszek. However, the result of the referendum itself should be treated as the opinion of the inhabitants. It is important in itself, because it shows the attitude of the inhabitants towards ZOE. However, in accordance with the statutory provisions, it does not decide on the further fate of this investment, which a private entity, not the local government, wants to implement – adds an employee of the mayor’s office.