More acted upon than acting? campaigns against waste incinerators in England

Campaigns against waste incineration in England never achieved prominence comparable with that of 1990s anti-roads protests. The explanation lies in the relative centrality of policies to government, the availability of allies, and the local nature of policy implementation and siting decisions. Variation in the outcomes of local campaigns is best explained by the differing political opportunity structures of local government. Historic patterns of local waste management, the timing of proposals and changes in government policy are also factors. Sharply rising costs of landfill drive waste authorities to seek alternatives, and new proposals for incineratorsincreased after 2005, provoking the establishment of a national antiincinerator network. However, increased concern about climate change and availability of new, modular waste treatment technologies reduce the appeal of incineration.